Mercer Bears at VMI Keydets
· SoCon Championship - SemifinalAlvarez helps Mercer defeat VMI, gain 1st SoCon title game
After upsetting second-seeded Wofford in the quarterfinals, Mercer (18-10) will meet top-seeded UNC Greensboro in Monday's championship game. The Bears have reached the semifinals once before in 2015, but never the title game.
Alvarez scored from inside as well as from the arc, showcasing a variety of spin moves and drives to finish 9-for-19. Felipe Haase added 15 points and 11 rebounds while Leon Ayers III scored 14.
VMI (13-12) had not appeared in the SoCon semifinals since 2003 and edged Furman in overtime to get there Sunday. Myles Lewis led the Keydets with 24 points on 10 of 16 shooting and also pulled down 14 rebounds. Greg Parham added 12 points with five assists.
How can I watch Mercer vs. VMI?
Recent Plays
| 2nd 0:00 | End of Game | 73 - 59 |
| 2nd 0:00 | End of 2nd half | 73 - 59 |
| 2nd 0:31 | Jeffrey Gary Defensive Rebound. | 73 - 59 |
| 2nd 0:35 | Sean Conway missed Three Point Jumper. | 73 - 59 |
| 2nd 0:41 | Myles Lewis Defensive Rebound. | 73 - 59 |
Statistics
MER |
VMI |
|
|---|---|---|
| 29-68 | FG | 24-59 |
| 43 | Field Goal % | 41 |
| 11-31 | 3PT | 4-25 |
| 35 | Three Point % | 16 |
| 4-6 | FT | 7-13 |
| 67 | Free Throw % | 54 |
| 46 | Rebounds | 35 |
| 12 | Offensive Rebounds | 6 |
| 34 | Defensive Rebounds | 29 |
| 13 | Assists | 10 |
| 2 | Steals | 1 |
| 0 | Blocks | 1 |
| 5 | Turnovers | 5 |
| 1 | Team Turnovers | 1 |
| 5 | Total Turnovers | 5 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 4 | Points Off Turnovers | 7 |
| 4 | Fast Break Points | 2 |
| 34 | Points in Paint | 34 |
| 13 | Fouls | 9 |
| 17 | Largest Lead | 2 |
Game Information
Venue: Harrah's Cherokee Center
Location: Asheville, NC
Attendance: 516 | Capacity:
Location: Asheville, NC
Attendance: 516 | Capacity:
2025-26 Southern Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Tennessee State | 13-5 | - | 23-11 |
| Mercer | 11-7 | 2 | 19-13 |
| Wofford | 11-7 | 2 | 19-13 |
| Samford | 11-7 | 2 | 18-14 |
| Furman | 10-8 | 3 | 22-13 |
| Western Carolina | 10-8 | 3 | 15-16 |
| UNC Greensboro | 9-9 | 4 | 15-19 |
| Chattanooga | 7-11 | 6 | 13-19 |
| The Citadel | 7-11 | 6 | 11-22 |
| VMI | 1-17 | 12 | 6-26 |


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