Strawberry, Mercer slip past Chattanooga 75-71 in OT

Jan 16, 2018, 02:51 am

MACON, Ga. -- Jordan Strawberry scored five of his 18 points in overtime, finished with six assists and took a charge in the closing seconds to help Mercer beat Chattanooga 75-71 in overtime on Monday night.

Demetre Rivers had 16 points, Desmond Ringer scored 14 and grabbed 10 rebounds, Ria'n Holland added 13 points and Stephon Jelks had 10 points and 12 boards for Mercer (9-9, 2/3 Southern Conference).

Strawberry made a layup to spark a 7-1 run that gave the Bears a four-point lead with 1:34 to play. Rodney Chatman answered with a layup for the Mocs but, after Jelks missed the front end of a 1-and-1 on the other end, Chatman was called for an offensive foul with 24.8 seconds left. Strawberry hit two free throws to cap the scoring seven seconds later.

Chatman and Nat Dixon had 17 points apiece for Chattanooga (6-13, 0-6), Makale Foreman scored 16 and David Jean-Baptiste 15. The Mocs have lost seven in a row. s

Chattanooga scored 21 of the final 32 points in regulation, including a put-back bank shot by Phillips from near the elbow that tied it 66-all with two seconds left.