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3/5/2008 - MEN'S BASKETBALL
Third Time a Charm for Dolphins Over the Bears
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Ben Smith contributed to Jacksonville's cause with 17 points. Image courtesy of ASun Photos.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Jacksonville Dolphins used a strong performance from Marcus Allen and solid bench production to defeat the Mercer Bears for the third time this season. The Dolphins defeated the Bears 65-57 on Wednesday in the quarterfinal round of the 2008 General Shale Brick Atlantic Sun Basketball Championship.
Allen scored 19 points and pulled down nine boards for the second seeded Dolphins (17-12), who will advance to the semifinals of the conference tournament. Jacksonville was the beneficiary of a 15-6 scoring advantage from their bench, led by Aric Brooks who tallied 12 points off 4-of-6 shooting, all in the first half. Brooks also grabbed seven rebounds.
"Aric is an energy and effort guy," Jacksonville Head Coach Cliff Warren said. "Aric did a great job offensively going to the glass and getting easy baskets."
James Florence scored a team-high 17 and Mark Hall went for 15 points and six assists to lead the Bears (11-17), who will say goodbye to Head Coach Mark Slonacker with their elimination. Slonacker will not return for the 2008-2009 season after prowling the Bears' sideline for 11 years.
"I feel a little weird," Slonacker said. "This might be the last time I coach a team on the Division I level."
Mercer held a lead of four points early in the first half, but would not be on top again, as Jacksonville's pressure defense forced the Bears into 18 turnovers. The Dolphins would lead by as many as 14, but the Bears kept the game close, pulling to within five, 54-49 after a Florence layup with 3:27 remaining.
Jacksonville will be back at Lipscomb's Allen Arena on Friday at 6:00 p.m. CT to face the winner of Thursday's quarterfinal match-up between Gardner-Webb and Stetson.
