- Matchup: Mercer Bears vs Furman Paladins
- Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2025
- Venue: Timmons Arena, Greenville, SC
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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The Mercer Bears (7-5) are set to face the Furman Paladins (9-4) at Timmons Arena this Wednesday.
In their latest outing, Mercer fell short against Washington State, ending the game at 84-78. The Bears recorded a field goal percentage of 42.7% (32 of 75) and made 7 out of 27 attempts from beyond the arc. At the foul line, they converted 7 of 14 shots, achieving a 50.0% success rate. Mercer secured 35 rebounds, including 12 on the offensive end, and contributed 13 assists. The team had a challenging defensive night, allowing Washington State to shoot 53.6% from the field (30 of 56). Washington State compiled 12 assists, recorded 8 steals, and collected 33 rebounds (3 offensive, 30 defensive) without any blocks. The Cougars also shot 65.0% from the charity stripe, making 13 out of 20 attempts, and nailed 11 of their 23 three-point attempts. Notably, Mercer had 19 fouls compared to Washington State’s 16.
Baraka Okojie stood out in this match, netting 24 points on 10 of 20 shooting while tallying 2 rebounds and 2 assists in 34 minutes of play.
Entering this contest, Mercer holds a 7-5 record for the season. The Bears average 10.8 turnovers per game and commit 15.4 personal fouls. On the rebounding front, they collect an average of 37.9 boards per game and have delivered 170 assists this season, ranking 251st nationally in assists per game. From the three-point line, Mercer converts 32.6% of their attempts (106 of 325) and has a free throw percentage of 69.0%. They average 80.5 points per game, placing them 119th in the nation, while shooting 44.6% from the field.
The Bears’ defense forces opponents into 14.3 turnovers per game while committing 18.1 personal fouls. They restrict their rivals to 32.2% shooting from three-point range and rank 233rd in the nation for points allowed per game (75.5). Mercer concedes a field goal percentage of 43.5% (336 of 773) and gives up 40.3 rebounds per game. They rank 152nd nationally in allowed assists, conceding 163 this season.
In their last game, the Furman Paladins triumphed over Charleston Southern with a score of 84-76. Furman allowed 38 rebounds (8 offensive) to Charleston Southern. The Paladins shot 26.5% from three-point range (9 of 34) and hit 5 of 9 from the free throw line (55.6%). Charleston Southern made 31 of their 72 shots from the field, achieving a 43.1% shooting percentage. At the conclusion of the game, Furman shot 27 of 61, resulting in a 44.3% field goal percentage. From beyond the arc, the Paladins successfully converted 10 of 25 attempts (40.0%). They capitalized on 20 free throw attempts for a stellar 76.9% success rate. Charleston Southern incurred 21 personal fouls during the matchup, leading Furman to the line 26 times. The Paladins recorded 7 steals and lost possession 8 times, while grabbing 31 defensive and 7 offensive boards for a total of 38 rebounds.
Asa Thomas was key for the Paladins in this encounter, scoring 25 points in 36 minutes while dishing out 4 assists. He shot 57.1% from the field, converting 8 of 14 attempts, and secured 7 rebounds.
Furman boasts a record of 9-4 this season, averaging 13.9 personal fouls per game and shooting 64.6% from the free throw line. The Paladins distribute 17.3 assists per game (56th in Division 1) and commit an average of 12.9 turnovers. They have accumulated 1,022 points this season (78.6 points per game) with an average of 39.8 rebounds per game. Offensively, Furman is shooting 48.6% from the field, ranking 62nd in college basketball.
The defensive unit of Furman restricts opponents to 31.8% from three-point range (107 of 336) and allows a free throw shooting percentage of 71.1%. They give up 13.2 assists and 31.4 rebounds per game, ranking 168th and 57th nationally, respectively. In terms of points allowed, Furman ranks 114th in college basketball, conceding 70.4 points per game. They force an average of 10.5 turnovers per game and hold opposing teams to a shooting percentage of 42.7% (150th in college).
Which team will cover the spread in tonight’s NCAA matchup?
Prediction: Take Furman
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