Gardner's 28 Points Not Enough as Eagles Fall to Mercer In Overtime

Tuesday, November 10

7 p.m.

Georgia Southern University

1-2,0-0Sun Belt

Mercer

2-2,0-0SoCon

Team	1	2	OT 1	F
Mercer	39	39	19	97
Ga. Southern	46	32	13	91

Box Score (PDF)

11/10/2026 10:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

STATESBORO, Ga. — Georgia Southern (1-2) lost to Mercer (2-2) 97-91 in overtime Tuesday night after Dallas Gardner's free throw with one second left in regulation tied the game at 78. The Eagles made 14 3-pointers and blocked seven shots, but Mercer had a 47-40 rebounding edge and a 50-26 advantage in points in the paint.

Mercer scored the first six points, but Dallas Gardner answered with two layups around a Cole Crissman 3-pointer, and Eltramon Smith's free throw at 16:16 capped an eight-point Eagles run for an 8-6 lead. The Eagles stretched the margin with perimeter scoring, as Smith, Truman Claytor IV, Jeromy Davis and Josh Dixon each hit 3-pointers in a stretch that moved the Eagles ahead 27-14 at 10:02. Mercer worked back into the half after Gardner converted inside and at the line for a 32-21 lead, trimming the margin to 34-33 on a layup at 2:28. The Eagles stayed in front late with a Davis 3-pointer, a Gardner dunk, a Dixon 3-pointer and Gardner's two free throws at :16, taking a 46-39 lead into halftime.

Crissman hit a 3-pointer at 17:52 to put the Eagles ahead 49-39, but Mercer answered with scores from Derek Goodman, Makoi Mabor Makoi and Brady Shoulders to cut the margin to 49-46. Claytor IV made 3-pointers at 16:23 and 12:04, and Eltramon Smith added one at 9:42 before Mercer worked back to a 64-64 tie on Karon Boyd's fast-break layup at 6:29. The Eagles moved back in front late, with Smith free throws and two more Claytor 3-pointers helping build a 74-69 lead with 3:09 left, but Boyd tied it at 74 on a 3-pointer at 1:59 and Mabor Makoi put Mercer ahead with a layup at 1:27. Gardner tied the game with a layup at 1:20, Quinton Perkins II put Mercer back up 78-76 with seven seconds left, and Gardner made two free throws with one second remaining to leave the game tied 78-78 at the end of regulation.

Dallas Gardner's layup at 4:22 had the Eagles in front 80-78, but Mercer tied it on two Brady Shoulders free throws and moved ahead 82-80 on Makoi Mabor Makoi's layup. After Quinton Perkins II pushed Mercer's lead to 84-80 at the line, Gardner made two free throws and Smith hit a 3-pointer off a Claytor IV assist to bring the Eagles within 86-85 at 2:10. Mercer answered with a Perkins 3-pointer, a block by Mabor Makoi and two Shane Cherry free throws to go up 91-85 before Davis scored, forced two late steals and the Eagles got a 3-point try with 20 seconds left. Mercer secured the rebound, made four free throws in the final 17 seconds and held off late baskets by Smith and Claytor to win 97-91 in overtime.

Gardner scored 28 points, went 12 of 13 at the free-throw line, and added eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Claytor IV finished with 19 points behind five 3-pointers and added six rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Smith posted 15 points with three 3-pointers and eight rebounds. Davis recorded 10 points and 10 rebounds, including four offensive boards, and added two steals.

Up next, the Eagles travel to Orlando, Fla., to face UCF on Friday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m.. at Addition Financial Arena.