MACON, Ga. (Interstat) — Baraka Okojie orchestrated a dominant offensive performance and Armani Mighty anchored a stifling interior defense as Mercer rolled past UNC Greensboro 95-77 in a Southern Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Hawkins Arena.

The Bears, improving to 14-8 overall, used a blistering first-half shooting display to build a commanding lead and never looked back, avenging a high-scoring loss from earlier in the season with a comprehensive victory in front of 973 fans. The Spartans fell to 8-14.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the opening minutes of the second half, where Mercer extinguished any hope of a UNC Greensboro comeback. Leading 43-29 at halftime, the Bears exploded with a 14-4 run over the first four minutes after the break. The surge was fueled by transition opportunities and precise outside shooting, turning a comfortable lead into an insurmountable 57-33 advantage. During this decisive stretch, Mercer capitalized on Spartan misses and turnovers, converting them into easy baskets, including a three-pointer from Kyle Cuffe and a layup from Brady Shoulders. This explosion underscored the game’s defining theme: Mercer’s superior efficiency and ability to create high-percentage shots, particularly in the open floor where they outscored UNCG 23-8 on fastbreak points.

Okojie, a guard from Brampton, Canada, was the catalyst throughout, finishing with 16 points and eight assists. His playmaking consistently broke down the Spartan defense, setting up teammates for open looks. Mercer shot 16 for 40 from three-point range, with Okojie hitting four of them, and assisted on 21 of their 32 made field goals, a stark contrast to UNC Greensboro’s six total assists.

Shoulders, from Eddyville, Kentucky, and Cuffe, from Harlem, New York, each added 15 points for the Bears. Zaire Williams of Brooklyn contributed 13 points, while the imposing presence of Mighty, a 6-foot-10 center from Toronto, was felt on both ends. He scored 13 points, grabbed multiple key rebounds, and recorded two blocks, altering countless other shots in the paint.

UNC Greensboro was led by a game-high 30 points from KJ Younger of Matthews, North Carolina, who fought relentlessly to keep his team within reach. Noah Norgaard of Copenhagen, Denmark, added 15 points, and Justin Neely of Miami Beach, Florida, chipped in 14. Despite Younger’s scoring outburst, the Spartans struggled with their offensive cohesion, shooting just 38.6% from the field and a frigid 29.4% from beyond the arc.

Mercer’s offensive rating of 130.2 points per 100 possessions dwarfed UNC Greensboro’s 100.6, highlighting the chasm in offensive execution. The Bears also protected the ball well, committing only eight turnovers while forcing nine, and their 13 offensive rebounds led to numerous second-chance opportunities.

The victory gave Mercer a regular-season split with the Spartans after UNC Greensboro won the first meeting 92-102 on Jan. 17. The Bears now look ahead to a home contest against Virginia Military Institute on Saturday. UNC Greensboro, mired in a two-game skid, travels to face The Citadel on Saturday.