Nwamu's 22 points leads Mercer past Bethune-Cookman

MACON, Ga. (AP) Ike Nwamu scored 22 points to lead Mercer past Bethune-Cookman 67-46 Friday night.

Nwamu scored the first seven points of the game as Mercer (6-5) jumped out to a 10-0 lead. Bethune-Cookman, which shot just 35.4 percent overall and 3 of 19 (15.8 percent) from 3-point range. Its first field goal, a 3-pointer by Denzel Dulin with 13:41 left in the half, cut the Wildcats lead to 15-5.

Mercer led by as many as 17 before halftime. Bethune-Cookman (3-9) used an 11-5 spurt to close the first half and trim its deficit to 33-24.

The Bears pushed their lead to 15 early in the second before Clemmye Owens, Brandon Stewart and Maurice Taylor each made layups in a 6-0 Bethune-Cookman run to make it 43-34 with 13 minutes remaining.

Nwamu scored seven over the next 2 1/2 minutes, helping Mercer extend its lead to 53-36 and Bethune-Cookman never again threatened.