Ian Clark scored 16 points as Belmont defeated Mercer 62-61 Saturday in the teams' regular-season finale.
The Bruins (24-7, 16-2 Atlantic Sun Conference), who have won their last 11 games, are seeded first for the conference tournament and will play eighth-seeded Jacksonville on Wednesday. The second-seeded Bears (21-10, 13-5), who will host the tournament, play Wednesday night, facing seventh-seeded Lipscomb.
Mick Hedgepeth's free throw with 14 seconds remaining provided Belmont's margin of victory after Reece Chamberlain's two free throws at the 31-second mark lifted the Bruins into a tie.
Mercer led 45-36 with 12:50 remaining, but Belmont rallied to go ahead 52-51 on Scott Saunders' layup with 5:21 left.
Daniel Coursey's dunk gave Mercer a 61-59 lead with 1:10 left.
Drew Hanlen finished with 12 points and Saunders 10 for Belmont.
Justin Cecil scored 17 points and Langston Hall 13 to lead Mercer.
