ASHEVILLE. N.C. – Mercer took control early and cruised to an 87-59 victory over Samford on Friday night in the opening round of the 2021 Ingles Southern Conference Men's Basketball Championship presented by General Shale Brick at Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville.
 
The seventh-seeded Bears (16-10) won their first SoCon tourney game since 2016 to advance to Saturday's quarterfinal round, a 5:30 p.m. matchup against No. 2 seed Wofford (15-8).
 
No. 10 seed Samford (6-13) was playing its first game in 15 days and just its fifth since Jan. 20 due to COVID issues that forced the cancellation of seven games.
 
Mercer swept the two games vs. Samford in the regular season, but both went to overtime.
 
This one wasn't close as Mercer jumped out to a quick 22-8 lead and limited Samford to 26 percent shooting (8-of-31) in the opening 20 minutes to take a comfortable 39-22 lead at intermission.
 
Ross Cummings paced the Bears’ offense with 13 first-half points.
 
Mercer led by as much as 34 points in the second half and finished 12-of-26 from the 3-point line.
 
Three Bears finished with 17 points – Felipe Haase (5-of-8 3-pointers, eight rebounds), Leon Ayers III and Cummings.
 
Logan Dye led Samford with 12 points and eight rebounds, and Preston Parks added 10 points and eight rebounds.
  
2021 Ingles Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Championship presented by General Shale Brick schedule
Friday, March 5 (ESPN+)
Game 1 - (8) The Citadel 100, (9) Western Carolina 68
Game 2 - (7) Mercer 87, (10) Samford 59
 
Saturday, March 6 (ESPN+/Nexstar)
Game 3 - (1) UNCG vs. (8) The Citadel, 12 p.m.
Game 4 - (4) Chattanooga vs. (5) ETSU, 2:30 p.m.
Game 5 - (2) Wofford vs. (7) Mercer, 5:30 p.m.
Game 6 - (3) Furman vs. (6) VMI, 8 p.m.
 
Sunday, March 7 (ESPNU)
Game 7 - Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 5 p.m.
Game 8 - Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 7:30 p.m.
 
Monday, March 8 (ESPN)
Championship game, 7 p.m.