JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Jan. 3, 2026) - The new year requires a renewed toughness for the SoCon gauntlet for ETSU men's basketball.
On Saturday, that toughness was on full display.
ETSU used a 14-0 run in the final seven minutes of their first SoCon home game to down the Mercer Bears 77-71. Brian Taylor II led the Bucs yet again with 21 points and ETSU dominated the glass en route to consecutive wins to start SoCon play.
The Buccaneers (10-5, 2-0) trailed 35-32 at halftime but cranked up the physical intensity against the Bears (8-7, 0-2) in an opening phase of the second half where the teams combined for 22 points in five minutes with nine of ETSU's 11 points scored in the paint or at the free throw line. Down 60-58 with 6:57 to go, five points in 45 seconds from Jaylen Smith got ETSU in front with the tenth and final lead change.
Smith extended that advantage at the free throw line with 5:13 to go and was followed quickly by a Taylor three from the left corner that gave ETSU the largest lead for either team in the game to that point at 68-60 with 4:34 left. Blake Barkley hit a layup with 3:15 to go and followed his own missed shot with a putback with 1:55 remaining to give ETSU their largest lead at 12 points and give ETSU all they required to win.
Taylor's 21 points matched a season-high, and he tied a career-high with 10 made free throws on 11 attempts. Taylor also led ETSU in rebounds with eight. Barkley had 19 points and four rebounds; Morris had 12 points and six boards, and Jaylen Smith had 12 points off the bench.
As a team, ETSU shot 42% from the field, 32% from outside the arc, and 85% from the free throw line on 27 attempts. They outrebounded Mercer 40-31 and collected 16 rebounds on 36 opportunities, their fourth game with 15 or more offensive boards leading to 18 second chance points. After trailing Mercer in points in the paint 16-6 at halftime, the Bucs won the paint for the game 30-26.
ETSU is one of three teams to start SoCon play 2-0 this season alongside UNC Greensboro and reigning tournament champion Wofford. The Bucs host VMI, coming to Johnson City after a win over Chattanooga, on Wednesday at 7:00. Tickets are available at ETSUTickets.com.
For more information on ETSU men's basketball, go to ETSUBucs.com.
