ETSU hangs on in 71-70 win over Mercer

Jan 8, 2016, 09:34 pm

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- Jalen Riley scored 22 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer early in the second half, and East Tennessee State hung on for a 71-70 win over Mercer on Thursday night.

Rashawn Rembert contributed 17 points, including five 3-pointers, and Lester Wilson added 14 for ETSU (9-4, 4-1 Southern Conference), which won its third game in a row.

Trailing by two at the break, ETSU opened the second half with a 14-2 run fueled by four straight 3-pointers to take a 48-38 lead that it would hold the rest of the way. Riley hit the go-ahead 3 with 16:24 to go, sank another from long range and capped the burst with a pair of free throws.

Mercer (8-9, 3-1) held the Buccaneers scoreless over the final 3:25 and pulled within a point on an 8-0 run sparked by Jordan Strawberry's jumper.

Jestin Lews led the Bears with 17 points.