UIC whittled a 16 point deficit down to 2 in the final seconds, but Mercer escaped Credit Union 1 Arena with a 72-68 win on Saturday evening.

Season-high totals from Tarkus Ferguson (19 points) and Michael Diggins (15) contributed to the Flames' rally.  A fast 9-0 run positioned the Flames to steal the win in the last 90 seconds until Mercer went 7-for-9 at the free throw line to secure the game.  Mercer got 24 points from Ethan Stair and used a commanding 18-5 advantage on the offensive glass to outscore UIC 18-4 in second chance points.

The Flames will close their three-game homestand Tuesday against Canisius.

First Half Highlights

• Deon Ejim blocked a shot on the first possession of the game, but Mercer quickly found their offense.  They ran out to a seven point lead thanks to seven second-chance points in the first four minutes.
• It was the Tarkus Ferguson show for UIC's offense in the first half.  The senior had two three-pointers to close the gap.  When he made his third triple to give him 13 points, none of his teammates had made more than one shot.
• The Bears commanded a 27-14 advantage on the glass in the first 20 minutes, including an 11-0 margin in offensive rebounds.  That enabled the guests to hoist 18 more shots and score 12 second chance points before halftime.
• The Flames hoisted 13 of 20 shots from downtown in the first half, but it was a nice up-and-under move by Michael Diggins that chipped away at the deficit in the waning seconds.

Second Half Highlights

• After a Ferguson shot, Mercer went on an 8-0 run.  Diggins nailed a three out of a timeout, and Jamie Ahale added one on the next possession, but each was answered by a Bears three.
• A Diggins two-handed slam and two Godwin Boahen threes were part of a 5-of-6 streak by the Flames, which coincided with the beginning of a drought by Mercer.  The Bears made just one of 11 shots over a five and a half minute stretch.
• Boahen found his game as the game went under 10 minutes.  He rebounded his own miss, accounting for UIC's first offensive rebound.  He set up Jacob Wiley for an alley-oop, and then drove the lane himself after Ahale made a nice steal in the corner, to bring UIC to within five points.
• After Mercer stretched their lead back to 11 points with back-to-back threes, Boahen answered from downtown and Ferguson drove for a reverse layup.  Boahen missed two threes around the 30-second mark.  The Flames forced a 5-second call and got a layup from Wiley on the ensuing possession, but the Bears made two free throws to seal the win.

Facts and Figures

• Ferguson's 19 points were a season high.  Diggins' 15 were, as well.
• Wiley matched his season best with 11 points.
• Boahen had a season high in assists, with six. 
• Ahale's six caroms were a career best.
• Ejim was one board shy of his season high of 7 rebounds.
• UIC grabbed a season low five offensive rebounds, after averaging over 11 per game entering the game.
• Mercer outscored UIC by 14 in second chance points (18-4) and in the paint (34-20).
• The visitors had an efficient 21-to-11 assist to turnover ratio, and helped on 21 of their 26 field goals.

Up Next

• The Boca Raton Beach Classic will continue with another campus game Tuesday.
• UIC will host Canisius in a 7 pm tip.
• Action shifts to Florida for two games on December 1 and 2.