National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Mercer 71, Tulane 61
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, November 26, 2015
Where: Nashville Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee
Officials: # Jason Baker, # Charles Russell, # Bret Smith
Attendance: 350

Five Mercer players scored in double figures, and the Bears earned a 71-61 win over Tulane on Thanksgiving night at the Challenge in Music City tournament in Nashville, Tenn.

Guard Phillip Leonard had a team-high 14 points for the Bears (4-1). Sophomore forward Stephon Jelks posted a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) for a third consecutive game. Guard Ethan Stair finished with 12 points, guard Jestin Lewis had 11, and forward Desmond Ringer scored 10.

Senior guard Louis Dabney finished with a team-high 16 points for Tulane (2-3). Sophomore big man Dylan Osetkowski had 13 points. Sophomore guard Cameron Reynolds, making his season debut after missing the first four games recovering from a thumb injury, added 11 points off the bench.

The Green Wave lost for the third time this season to a squad from a lower-profile conference -- first dropping decisions to Southwestern Athletic Conference members Alabama A&M and Southern University and now to a Southern Conference team, Mercer.

The first half was close most of the way before Mercer asserted itself late to take a 26-19 lead into the intermission.

The Bears, led by Jelks, posted a 34-21 rebounding advantage. Mercer also shot 52.1 percent from the floor while limiting Tulane to 36.8 percent shooting.

The Challenge in Music City continues this weekend in Nashville. Tulane faces Stephen F. Austin on Friday and Liberty on Sunday. Mercer plays Appalachian State on Friday and Western Michigan on Sunday.
Top Game Performances
 
Tulane   Mercer
Louis Dabney 16 Scoring Phillip Leonard 14
Malik Morgan 5 Assists Phillip Leonard 6
Dylan Osetkowski 5 Rebounds Stephon Jelks 10
Dylan Osetkowski 5 Free Throws Made Phillip Leonard 6
Cameron Reynolds 3 Steals Stephon Jelks 2
Louis Dabney 1 Blocks Stephon Jelks 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Tulane 61 36.8 8-21 11-12 14 21 2 9 7
Mercer 71 52.1 6-14 15-20 20 34 1 3 15