East Tennessee State Buccaneers

McCloud helps ETSU defeat Mercer 74-55 in SoCon opener (Dec 31, 2017)

Published Dec. 31, 2017 5:21 p.m. ET

MACON, Ga. (AP) Jalan McCloud scored 22 points with four 3-pointers and East Tennessee State ran away from Mercer 74-55 on Sunday to open defense of its Southern Conference championship.

ETSU (10-4) shot 57 percent from the floor (29-for-51) and made 10 of 18 from 3-point range (57 percent). Desonta Bradford and Bo Hodges each scored 12 for the Buccaneers.

It was the fourth-straight win for ETSU against Mercer (7-7, 0-1), having swept the Bears in conference play last season and winning a SoCon quarterfinal.

ETSU broke open a 49-44 game with 12:31 left to play, with David Burrell scoring from 3 to launch a 14-4 run over the next nine minutes, ending with a Peter Jurkin layup.

Jurkin finished with eight points, Burrell seven.

Ria'n Holland scored 12 for Mercer and Desmond Ringer added 10. The Bears shot 39 percent (20-for-51) and made six 3-pointers.

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