#14 MERCER 78 #3 DUKE 71...the ATLANTIC Sun strikes again this time the BEARS from Macon, GA as the ransack the BLUE DEVILS Mini-Van...CAMPUS HARDWOOD "March Madness" with Upsets and Parity in Full Motion #MercerUBEARS #AtlanticSun

They hail from Macon, Georgia and hardly anyone outside of the Atlantic Sun Conference knew who they were and where they are from. Now after a springing an upset on the #3 seed over-hyped and overrated Duke Blue Devils everyone is talking Mercer Bears.

The Bears end the game on a 20-8 run and Duke was hit in the chops late and could not regain focus to finish the deal. Duke knew they were in for a game when it was just 35-34 Duke at the break. The Blue Devils looked like they were going to pull away late when the score was 63-58 Duke with under five minutes. The Bears then go on that 20-8 run led by Jakob Gallon (20 pts  5 rebs) and Anthony White Jr. (13 pts 3 rebs) as they close the Dukies out. Atlantic Sun Player of the Year Langston Hall (11 pts 5 asst) controlled the "Pace" as the Duke Guard for once carried the load. Quinn Cook led Duke with 23 points and Rasheed Sulaimon added 20 points.  

Duke's ACC Freshman of the Year and surefire Top 2 Pick Jabari Parker had 14 points and seven rebounds on just 4 of 14 from the field. Rodney Hood had six points on just 2 of 10 shooting adding six boards and five helpers. Those were Duke's top two scorers and they didn't bring it hence they exit the Tourney. I have been saying all season long when Hood and Parker don't go Biggie-Size...the Blue Devils look like a Division II Outfit. Luckily for them Cook and Sulaimon carried the load today or they would have gotten beat by 25....

360 Degrees...Mercer Alum and former NBA Player and Coach now current NBA TV Analyst Sam Mitchell a Mercer Alum has to be going crazy...last Tourney it was Florida Gulf Coast from the Atlantic Sun that did work in the Big Dance as it came down to them in Mercer in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship Game played at FGCU.

Mercer Nation...tear da Club Up!

Note: Parker from Duke played the 5 (Center) all season long when he will play the 3 in the Logo and that is Small Forward...