BOX SCORE (PDF)

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The Samford men's basketball team was eliminated from the Southern Conference Tournament with an 87-59 loss to Mercer in Friday night's opening round at Harrah's Cherokee Center.
 
With the loss, Samford ends its season with a mark of 6-13. Mercer improves to 16-10, and the Bears advance to Saturday's quarterfinal round where they will take on Wofford.
 
FROM THE BOX SCORE

• Logan Dye led Samford with 12 points and eight rebounds.
• Preston Parks and Marcellus Vail had nine points each.
• Mercer was led by Ross Cummings, Felipe Haase and Leon Ayers III with 17 points each.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The game was close early in the first half until, with Samford trailing, 10-8, Mercer went on a 12-0 run to take a 22-8 lead with 9:19 left in the first half following a three-pointer by Ayers.
• Samford fought back to cut the lead to five points at 22-17 with 7:23 left in the first half after a pair of free throws by Dye.
• Mercer extended its lead out to 17 points at 37-20 with 1:59 left in the half after a free throw by Jeff Gary.
• Mercer took a 39-22 lead into the locker room at halftime.
• The Bears pushed their lead to 20 points at 48-28 with 17:35 left following a three-pointer by Haase.
• The Mercer lead stretched to 23 points at 58-35 with 13:38 to play.
• Samford cut the lead to 18 points at 58-40 with 12:43 to go after a jumper by Parks.
• Mercer extended its lead out to 34 points at 77-43 with 6:02 left after a three-pointer by Haase.
• Samford could get no closer than 25 points the rest of the way as Mercer came away with the 87-59 win.

 
 
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