Hall spent most of the first half on the bench with foul trouble, but took over in the extra sessions, scoring all nine points for Mercer (2-1) in the first overtime. Bud Thomas added 17 points and Daniel Coursey and Ike Nwamu scored 10 apiece for the Bears.
Fuquan Edwin poured in a career-high 35 for Seton Hall (2-1) and Gene Teague added nine points and 12 rebounds. Leading scorer Sterling Gibbs was saddled with foul trouble and ended with a season-low nine points after fouling out in the second overtime.
The Pirates led by as many as 12 in the first half, but didn't score a field goal in the final 6:15 as Mercer climbed within 28-27 at the break. Seton Hall spread it back out to 52-43 on Edwin's layup off a Tom Maayan steal with 8:26 left before the Bears answered with a 13-2 run to regain the lead.
Gibbs hit a pair of free throws with 39 seconds left to tie it at 56 and neither team could convert down the stretch in regulation. Jakob Gollon's 3-pointer with 1:07 left in the second overtime gave the Bears the lead for good, and Hall converted four straight free throws to help Mercer hold on.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The all-time series is tied at one apiece with both contests going to overtime and being decided by three points. … Mercer improved to 17-1 at home since the start of last season. … After making 30 or more free throws in each of its first two games, Seton Hall was 17-of-30 from the foul line. Mercer was 13-of-18.
Seton Hall | Mercer | |
Fuquan Edwin 35 | Scoring | Langston Hall 24 |
Sterling Gibbs 4 | Assists | Langston Hall 5 |
Gene Teague 12 | Rebounds | Daniel Coursey 6 |
Gene Teague 5 | Free Throws Made | Langston Hall 11 |
Fuquan Edwin 5 | Steals | Jakob Gollon 2 |
Gene Teague 1 | Blocks | Daniel Coursey 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Seton Hall | 74 | 44.1 | 5-20 | 17-30 | 11 | 34 | 1 | 15 | 23 |
Mercer | 77 | 45.9 | 8-22 | 13-18 | 13 | 31 | 6 | 6 | 21 |