The VMI Keydets and Mercer Bears meet Thursday in college basketball action at the Hawkins Arena. The VMI Keydets look for a win after splitting their last six games. The Mercer Bears need a win after losing three of their last four games.
The VMI Keydets are averaging 77.8 points on 44.8 percent shooting and allowing 67.5 points on 37.5 percent shooting. Jake Stephens is averaging 18.3 points and 8.4 rebounds, while Kamdyn Curfman is averaging 17.7 points and 2.9 assists. Cooper Sisco is grabbing 1.5 rebounds and Sean Conway is dishing 1.6 assists. The VMI Keydets are shooting 36.1 percent from beyond the arc and 80.5 percent from the free throw line. The VMI Keydets are allowing 29.1 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 36.9 rebounds per game.
The Mercer Bears are averaging 72.1 points on 44.4 percent shooting and allowing 71.2 points on 43.7 percent shooting. Felipe Haase is averaging 14.9 points and 5.5 rebounds, while Jalen Johnson is averaging 14.1 points and 1.8 assists. Neftali Alvarez is the third double-digit scorer and James Glisson III is dishing 1.6 assists. The Mercer Bears are shooting 35.1 percent from beyond the arc and 75.4 percent from the free throw line. The Mercer Bears are allowing 34.4 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 30.7 rebounds per game.
The Keydets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games and 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall. The Bears are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 Thursday games and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall. The over is 5-1 in Keydets last 6 road games. The over is 8-1 in Bears last 9 overall. The home team is 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings.
Both of these teams have been hit or miss this season, but it’s fair to say that the VMI Keydets have been the more impressive team this season, and they’ve certainly been cashing tickets at a much better clip. The Mercer Bears aren’t covering numbers, and their offense has scored 66 or fewer points in three of their last four games. Even on the road, I kind of like VMI to steal one in this toss up.