LEXINGTON, Va. (Interstat) — Mercer used a balanced attack to defeat Virginia Military Institute 77-67 in a Southern Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Cameron Hall. The Bears led 36-33 at halftime before outscoring the Keydets 41-34 after the break to secure the road victory. The win improved Mercer’s record to 11-7 overall, while VMI fell to 6-12. An announced crowd of 1,276 watched as Mercer’s performance defied the pregame point spread, covering as a 9.5-point favorite. The combined score of 144 points fell under the projected total of 157.

LEXINGTON, Va. (Interstat) — Armani Mighty scored 18 points and Brady Shoulders added 20 as Mercer used a dominant performance on the interior to grind out a 77-67 victory over Virginia Military Institute in a Southern Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Cameron Hall. The Bears, who led by three at halftime, improved to 11-7 overall. The Keydets fell to 6-12. The most important part of the game was Mercer’s overwhelming control of the paint and the offensive glass, which ultimately negated VMI’s prolific three-point shooting. The Keydets connected on 14 of 36 attempts from beyond the arc, led by Linus Holmstrom’s 18 points on 4-of-10 shooting from deep. However, Mercer attempted 24 free throws to VMI’s four and hauled in 19 offensive rebounds, leading to 19 second-chance points. Mighty, a 6-foot-10 center from Toronto, was central to that effort, adding three blocks and a game-high 11 rebounds, seven of them offensive, in 34 minutes. His presence inside forced VMI into contested perimeter shots and allowed Mercer to build a 42-24 advantage in points in the paint. Shoulders, a forward from Eddyville, Kentucky, was the primary beneficiary of Mercer’s guard penetration and offensive board work, scoring efficiently around the rim. Baraka Okojie of Brampton, Canada, facilitated much of the offense, dishing out seven assists to go with 11 points. VMI stayed competitive largely through the long ball. Holmstrom, from Stockholm, Sweden, spearheaded the attack with his 18 points, while Cal Liston of Marietta, Georgia, added 12 points, all on three-pointers. TJ Johnson contributed 15 points for the Keydets. The game was a contrast in styles. Mercer shot just 3 of 21 from three-point range but made up for it by hitting 28 of 63 two-point attempts and 18 of 24 free throws. VMI, meanwhile, was just 11 of 27 on two-point shots and attempted only four free throws, making three. Mercer’s defensive pressure and size also contributed to 14 VMI turnovers, which the Bears converted into 15 points. While VMI had eight steals and six blocks, led by AJ Clark’s three swats, they could not consistently string together stops to overcome Mercer’s interior scoring. The Bears built their halftime lead to 36-33 despite VMI’s early three-point barrage. Mercer then opened the second half on a 9-3 run to establish a nine-point cushion and maintained a multi-possession lead for nearly the entire final period. VMI pulled within six points on multiple occasions but could not get closer, as Mercer consistently answered with baskets in the lane or trips to the foul line. Attendance was 1,276. Mercer next plays at UNC Greensboro on Saturday. Virginia Military Institute will host The Citadel on Saturday.

LEXINGTON, Va. (Interstat) — A surging Mercer squad looks to continue its Southern Conference momentum when it visits struggling Virginia Military Institute on Thursday night at Cameron Hall. The Bears (10-7, 2-2 SoCon) have won two straight league games in impressive fashion, averaging 105 points in victories over The Citadel and Wofford. Mercer’s offense will be fueled by guard Baraka Okojie, who is coming off a career performance. In Saturday’s 109-97 win over Wofford, Okojie scored 29 points and dished out 12 assists. Over his last five games, he is averaging 20.8 points and 6.6 assists. They face a VMI Keydets team (6-11, 1-3) mired in a three-game losing streak, all by double digits. The Keydets are coming off a 69-48 road loss at Furman where they shot just 32.7% from the field. Guard TJ Johnson has been a bright spot, averaging 20 points over his last three contests, including a 30-point effort at East Tennessee State on Jan. 7. Mercer’s recent success has been defined by high-scoring outbursts, topping 100 points in three of its last five games. Forward Armani Mighty adds an interior presence, posting a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds against Wofford. VMI, which earned its sole conference win against Chattanooga on Jan. 3, will need to significantly improve its defensive effort to slow Mercer’s pace. The Keydets have allowed an average of 81.3 points during their current skid. Thursday’s matchup is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams, with the rematch scheduled for Jan. 31 in Macon, Georgia. Mercer holds the superior overall record, but VMI will look to defend its home court and halt its slide in conference play. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST.