Mercer beats Western Michigan for 3rd victory in Music City
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Stephon Jelks scored 14 points and Phillip Leonard made 3 of 4 free throws in final 35 seconds to help Mercer beat Western Michigan 68-65 on Sunday night for its third straight victory in the Challenge at Music City.
Western Michigan's Tucker Haymond hit 1 of 2 free throws and, after a Mercer miss, Jared Klein made a layup to pull to 64-62 with 34 seconds left. Mercer went 3 of 4 from the line on its next two possessions and Klein hit a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left to make it 67-65.
Leonard then went 1 of 2 from the line and Haymond's 3-pointer at the buzzer rimmed out.
Jordan Strawberry and Leonard added 10 points apiece for Mercer (6-1), which is off to its best start in over 30 years.
Klein sank five 3-pointers and finished with 18 points for Western Michigan (3-4).
