Chattanooga gets 72-66 OT win over Mercer in SoCon showdown

MACON, Ga. (AP) Eric Robertson hit six 3-pointers and scored 20 points and Chattanooga won its ninth straight game by edging Mercer 72-66 in overtime Monday night.

Demetre Rivers scored the first basket of overtime but Mercer did not hit its next field goal until the 16-second mark when Phillip Leonard pulled the Bears to 70-66. Chattanooga's Johnathan Burroughs-Cook answered with two free throws for a six-point lead.

Tre' McLean added 16 points and Justin Tuoyo 14 for Chattanooga (22-3, 11-1 Southern), which made just 37 percent from the field but hit 17 of 20 free throws.

Rivers, a sophomore, scored a career-best 20 points for Mercer (18-7, 8-4), which had a four-game winning streak snapped. Leonard finished with 18 points.

Ethan Stair hit a wide open 3-pointer from the wing with 38.2 seconds left in regulation - Mercer's only points in the final four minutes - to tie it at 59-all and force overtime.