App State Mountaineers vs Mercer Bears
Mercer trips Appalachian State in final seconds, 71-70
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Phillip Leonard's layup with five seconds left lifted Mercer to a 71-70 win over Appalachian State at the Challenge in Music City tournament on Friday night.
Leonard scored the Bears final seven points, rallying them from a 67-62 deficit with three minutes to play.
Ronshad Shabazz hit a 3-pointer with :41 left to give the Mountaineers a 70-67 lead, but Leonard, who finished with 23 points, got to the basket twice for layups in the final :15.
Mercer (5-1) bounced back after losing its first game of the season Monday at Davidson, 77-71 by shooting 51 percent from the field against the Mountaineers, converting 25 of 49 field goal attempts.
Frank Eaves equaled his career-high with a 31-point performance for Appalachian State (2-4). Chris Burgess and Tyrell Johnson added 12 and 11 points, respectively. Appalachian State shot 24 of 52 from the field (46.2 percent), including 13 of 29 from distance.
Game Information
Nashville, TN
Referee:Jason Baker
Referee:Charles Russell
Referee:Chase Vaden
2025-26 Standings
| Southern ConferenceSouthern Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Tennessee State | 13-5 | - | 23-11 |
| Mercer | 11-7 | 2 | 19-13 |
| Wofford | 11-7 | 2 | 19-13 |
| Samford | 11-7 | 2 | 18-14 |
| Furman | 10-8 | 3 | 22-13 |
| Western Carolina | 10-8 | 3 | 15-16 |
| UNC Greensboro | 9-9 | 4 | 15-19 |
| Chattanooga | 7-11 | 6 | 13-19 |
| The Citadel | 7-11 | 6 | 11-22 |
| VMI | 1-17 | 12 | 6-26 |
| Sun Belt ConferenceSun Belt Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Troy | 12-6 | - | 22-12 |
| South Alabama | 11-7 | 1 | 21-12 |
| Arkansas State | 11-7 | 1 | 20-12 |
| Texas State | 11-7 | 1 | 19-13 |
| Marshall | 11-7 | 1 | 19-13 |
| Coastal Carolina | 11-7 | 1 | 19-13 |
| App State | 11-7 | 1 | 19-13 |
| James Madison | 9-9 | 3 | 18-15 |
| Southern Miss | 9-9 | 3 | 19-16 |
| Georgia Southern | 8-10 | 4 | 21-16 |
| Old Dominion | 7-11 | 5 | 12-21 |
| Louisiana | 7-11 | 5 | 11-22 |
| Georgia State | 7-11 | 5 | 10-22 |
| UL Monroe | 1-17 | 11 | 4-28 |
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