MACON, Ga. (AP) — Travis Smith scored 18 points, Daniel Coursey added 17 and Langston Hall had a double-double as Mercer pulled away from East Tennessee State for a 78-59 win Thursday night in Atlantic Sun Conference action.
Smith had 13 points in the second half and Coursey 15 for the Bears (11-8, 4-2), who are off to their best home start (7-0) since 1973-74.
Hall finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Bud Thomas added 11 points for Mercer.
The Buccaneers, who defeated Florida Gulf Coast 85-75 Saturday after overcoming a 19-point second-half deficit, trailed the Bears by 11 with 4 seconds to go until intermission and could get no closer after the break.
Mercer was 19 of 23 from the free-throw line, compared to 5 of 17 for East Tennessee State.
Jarvis Jones, who scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half, led the Buccaneers (4-14, 2-3).
