Preview: Chattanooga Mocs at Mercer Bears MACON, Ga. (Interstat) — The Mercer Bears will look to avenge a recent loss and solidify their standing in the Southern Conference when they host the Chattanooga Mocs on Thursday afternoon at Hawkins Arena. The matchup features teams heading in opposite directions. Mercer (17-10 overall) enters with momentum, having won four of its last five games, including a 70-54 road victory at The Citadel on Feb. 14. The Bears are led by dynamic guard Baraka Okojie, who is averaging 22.5 points over his last two contests. Okojie scored 19 points with six assists in the first meeting against Chattanooga this season. Chattanooga (10-17) seeks to halt a three-game skid, most recently a 76-81 home loss to Western Carolina on Feb. 14. The Mocs’ lone bright spot in that stretch was a 79-75 home win over these same Bears on Feb. 5. Guard Jordan Frison powered that victory with 11 points and has been a consistent offensive threat, scoring 20 or more points in three of his last seven games. In the Feb. 5 meeting, Chattanooga overcame a 19-point performance from Okojie. The Mocs will need a similar defensive effort to counter a potent Mercer offense that has scored 95 or more points three times in conference play. Mercer holds a significant advantage in the standings and will play in front of a home crowd where they are 10-3 this season. Chattanooga, just 3-9 on the road, must find a way to replicate its earlier success against the Bears to spring the upset. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. EST tip-off on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026.