MACON, Ga. (Interstat) — Zaire Williams scored 23 points to lead Mercer over East Tennessee State 82-76 in a Southern Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Hawkins Arena. The Bears built a 49-35 halftime lead behind sharp 3-point shooting before holding off a second-half push by the Buccaneers. Baraka Okojie added 14 points and eight assists for Mercer. Blake Barkley paced East Tennessee State with 16 points. Mercer improved to 19-12 overall, while East Tennessee State fell to 21-10. An announced crowd of 2,317 watched the Bears sweep the regular-season attendance mark.