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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University basketball team suffered just its third home loss of the 2016-17 season Wednesday as the Bulldogs dropped a 68-65 decision against the Mercer Bears in a Southern Conference duel held at the Pete Hanna Center. Mercer shot an impressive 56 percent from the field, including a sizzling 71.4 percent (10-of-14) in the second half.
 
With the loss, Samford (12-6, 3-2 SoCon) moved to 6-3 at home this season and came up short against Mercer (8-10, 2-3 SoCon) for the seventh straight time. The Bulldogs' last win in the series occurred Feb. 23, 2002.
 
In a back-and-forth game Wednesday, the lead changed 21 times. The contest also featured eight ties and six players in double figures.
 
Samford's Wyatt Walker led all scorers with 17 points as he did most of his damage from the free-throw line. Walker, the reigning SoCon Player of the Week, finished a perfect 9-of-9 from the charity stripe and 4-of-6 from the field. He also pulled down 11 rebounds to register his 10^th double-double of the season.
 
Walker entered the game ranked No. 9 in the nation in double-doubles and ninth in total rebounds.
 
The Bulldogs' Demetrius Denzel-Dyson notched 15 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the field, while leading the squad with three 3-point baskets.
 
As a team, Samford turned in a 7-of-21 (33.3 percent) performance from long range.
 
Mercer finished Wednesday's game with four players scoring in double figures. Junior forward Stephon Jelks paced the Bears with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Demetre Rivers scored 12 and grabbed five rebounds.
 
Jelks and Rivers combined to shoot 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. Jelks posted a perfect 4-for-4 outing from long range, while Rivers knocked down 3-of-6.
 
Mercer's Jordan Strawberry added 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field. Ria'n Holland, the Bears' leading scorer heading into the game, was limited to 11 points on a 4-of-12 shooting performance.
 
Samford led for a majority of the contest and held a six-point advantage, 31-25, with 2:05 remaining in the first half. Mercer closed out the opening period with a pair of free throws from Rashad Lewis and a 3-pointer from Jelks.
 
The Bulldogs took a 31-30 advantage into the locker room, but Mercer started the second frame with five straight points and started to regain a bit of momentum.
 
Down the stretch, the teams continued to trade leads until the 3:09 mark when the Bears' Holland connected on a 3-point basket to give Mercer a 64-59 advantage.
 
Samford battled back in the final minutes with a pair of free throws from Denzel-Dyson, an acrobatic layup from Josh Sharkey and two more free throws from Walker to trim the Bears' advantage to 66-65 with six seconds remaining.
 
On Mercer's final possession, Rashad Lewis connected on two free throws, but the Bulldogs took control of the ball with five seconds and the score 68-65.
 
Christen Cunningham, Samford's junior point guard put up the possible game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer, but it rimmed out to the left and the Bears hung on for the three-point win.
 
The key stat of the game was the fact that Mercer outrebounded Samford, 43-30.
 
The Samford University basketball team will next be in action Saturday at noon (CST) as the Bulldogs travel to Charleston, South Carolina, for a tough SoCon road test against The Citadel Bulldogs to be held in McAlister Field House.
 
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