Mercer upset; NCAA bid in jeopardy

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Posted 6:55AM on Saturday, March 8, 2003

ATLANTA - Reserve Marcus McGee scored all 13 of his points in the second half as Central Florida upset top-seeded Mercer 79-59 Friday night in the semifinals of the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. The Golden Knights (21-10) move on to face Troy State game in the final. Ray Abellard had 18 points and Dexter Lyons scored 10 of his 13 in the second half for Central Florida, which pulled away from a halftime tie to beat the Bears (23-6) for the first time this year. Mercer swept the regular season series but fell apart after the break, making just 31 percent from the field and losing the rebounding battle 21-17. Scott Emerson had 17 for the Bears, who won the South Division title. Last year, they finished 6-23 and didn't even compete in the conference tourney. Their one-season turnaround is the biggest since the NCAA began keeping up with it in 1974. Josh Bodden, who came in averaging just 4.8 points, added 10 off the bench for the Knights. Ed Dotson and Dexter Lyons had two baskets apiece during a 12-2 run early in the second half, giving Central Florida a nine-point lead. Later, when Mercer closed within 50-45 on a 3-pointer by Clarence Baker, the Knights went on an 11-2 spurt to put the game away. Dotson started this one with a jumper, followed by a layup from McGee and two from Lyons. After Emerson missed two free throws, McGee hit a 3-pointer for a 61-47 lead, and the Bears never got closer than 10. Central Florida finished the game with a 10-2 run. Lyons struggled in the first half and missed his first four shots, including two airballs. He also missed a wide-open dunk, going for a spectacular windmill that bounced off the rim and into the fourth row of the stands. Aleem Muhammad, Mercer's leading scorer at 15.8 points a game, never found his rhythm, finishing with six on 3-of-10 shooting. He missed all three of his 3-pointers and was 0-for-2 from the line before fouling out. Baker had 15 for the Bears, and Wesley Duke added 13.