University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men vs. Mercer at Hawkins Arena in Macon, Georgia
Time: 4 p.m.
Video/radio: ESPN3/96.1 FM
Likely lineups (with heights and scoring averages in parentheses)
UTC (12-16, 7-8 Southern Conference)
Projected starters: G David Jean-Baptiste (6-1, 9.1); G Jerry Johnson Jr. (6-1, 10.3); F Keigan Kerby (6-7, 2.3); F Jonathan Scott (6-4, 6.1); F Ramon Vila (6-8, 10.3).
Key reserves: C Thomas Smallwood (7-0, 6.5); G Donovann Toatley (5-9, 11.6).
MERCER (10-17, 5-10)
Projected starters: F Fardaws Aimaq (6-11, 5.0); G Marcus Cohen (6-4, 4.7); G Ross Cummings (6-3, 17.2); G Ethan Stair (6-4, 11.7); G Jaylen Stowe (6-4, 10.4).
Key reserves: G Djordje Dimitrijevic (6-2, 10.2); F Luke Hamilton (6-8, 2.6).
MOCS REPORT
With a win today, UTC would clinch a first-round bye in the upcoming SoCon tournament and take a big step toward securing the No. 5 seed. Samford (6-9) sits a game back but currently holds the tiebreaker over the Mocs due to a win over Furman. Both the Mocs and Samford have to play Furman and Wofford to end the season. UTC, despite the absence of Kevin Easley - the team's leading scorer and rebounder this season - earned a vital 68-65 win at The Citadel on Thursday as Jean-Baptiste scored 16 points to lead four Mocs in double figures. Justin Brown and Kerby picked up significant minutes and may have to do so again today because the playing status of Easley, who injured an ankle last week at Samford, will be a game-time decision.
BEARS REPORT
Mercer's win over Samford on Thursday completed a season sweep of the Bulldogs. Cummings led the way for the Bears with 23 points, with Stair, who has been battling an ankle injury, adding 15 points and 12 rebounds. Cummings continues to be one of the league's top players. He ranks in the top five in scoring, minutes (33.3 per game), free-throw percentage (.832) and 3-pointers made per game (3.2). As a team, Mercer is in the top five in field-goal defense (.341), turnover margin (plus-1.67) and scoring defense (71.6 points per game).
KEY MATCHUP
Cummings had 22 points and was 5-for-6 from 3-point range in this season's first meeting between the teams, a 73-70 UTC win Jan. 17 at McKenzie Arena. Keeping him from going off is crucial. The Bears, especially with freshman Hamilton getting more minutes, will have a significant size edge inside, especially if Easley is out, so keeping them off the offensive glass will be a priority, too.