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MERCEH’CLUSTER Bears Loose to Tech by Eight By Lou Johnson JAM. 24. IM* s Gordy Leads Bears to Near Century Mark as Florida Presbyterian Falls The running, gunning Mercer Bears shot down a tough Florida Presbyterian team, 93-66 in the ■ Bears den last week. The game started like it would be a see-saw battle, but the Bears soon put an end'to that as they got hot and ran the Florida team out of the gym. Freshman sensation Bruce Gorily led the roriip with 26 points, as the Bears made it lock easy. Their at- Jacksonville Downs Strong Bear Quintet A strong, talented Jacksonville University quintet the Mereer Bears, 76-7), but not before they had to fight (or their lives: The Bears refused to give in to the tough Dolphins as they came back from ten. and fifteen point, deficits throughout the game. Jack sonville's biggest lead was fifteen points and they appeared on the verge of breaking the game open at any moment, as hot-handed Hex Morgan poumed in 23 points for the Dolphins. Tlie Bears held the Dolphins, who were- tied with UCLA and Texas A&M for the field goal per centage lead in the nation with a 50 per cent shooting average, to a -15 per cent shooting average, and came within two points of tying the game three times in the latter stage of the game. Senior Tom Mitchell, whose fine tempt for the century mark fell short as- the Bears were unable to connect on- three straigght shots from medium range The win even ed the Bears record at 5-5 for .the year, and no dou btbuilt up their ■confidence for their homecoming l*ou< with Georgia Tech The upset-minded Mereer Bears spoiled the Georgia Tech Yellow- jackets “breather” for 35 minutes and 29 seconds last Saturday night, but tlie ‘Jackets, hung on and left town with a narrow 67-59 victory. Thy Bears, playing before almost 7,000 homecoming fans, held the taller and slower Techmen ut bav as they came through time and again with the big play. Mercer trailed Tech only briefly in tin- first half, but managed to ease away from tlie Jackets and hold a 34-32 lead at halftime. The Bears got good outside hooting from freshman Bruce wordy and Robert Bellior. along vith Little All-American .candidate lud Roberts. Mercer came back strong in the second half and led until Roberts 'ouled out with just over five min utes to play. Gordy kept the home crowd on their feet as he came out of the crowd of big Techmen to • make some unbelievable, shots, left and righthanded. There were quite a few Tech followers at the game who sat on lhe edge of their seats until Ro- lierts fouled out Plenty of interest in the game had built up here, es pecially after Olgethorpe’s coach, Jack Carter had predicted the Bears would give the Yellowjac- kets a hard time, and could win. •Carter’s opinion carried a lot of weight because his Petrels had just fi iashed drubbing the Bears in At lanta Actually, the interest in the game was generated by more than what Carter had said. His team has been trying to schedule Tech for some time now, but so far they've been Shunned. One writer perhaps correctly stated it when he said the- game would be Part 11 of “Who could maul the Bears worse" between Tech and Oglethorpe fans, in an attempt to determine which of the Atlanta schools had , the better team. The Bears made Carter’s opinion stand as they played a hustling, defense, giving the poor shooting Techmen the outside shot and con centrating on the big center. Rich Yunkas. Tin strategy worked and the Bears out rebounded the big Tech team, and stole the ball from their slow-footed guards. In a comparison of size, the Bears looked like the four dwarfs and a midget playing a team of “Wilt the Stilts”, but the T'eclimen were lost when it came to manuevering. The Bears made a minimum of mistakes and committed only' 12 fouls, but five of these were on Ro berts. Freshman Marvin Bailey and Jim Graham out rebounded the Tech big men under both boards, but even this wasn’t enough to pull the game out for the Bears, who still have three members on their squad who wanted reverge for a 91-57 Tech triumph two years-ago in Atlanta “I was very proud of every hoy " that played out there tonight,” said coach Bobby - Wilder after the game. “They really put up a trem endous effort and all should be proud of their play.” The ’ Bears were defeated but there is n fooling around here that plenty of good will come out of the defeat Tlie game could revive interest in this area for 'college .basketball, as the Bears continue to pro\e that they have what it takes, regardless of their lack of height. Game Time shooting and tough rebounding kept the Bears in contention, led the Bears in scoring witli 23 points. The'6-5 senior scored 15 points in two three spurts in the first half, scoring nine points in one Spurt and six in the other. Jud Roberts countered with 21 and Robert Bellior .cashed’in 13 against the talent-laden Dolphins who have victories this year over FJorida State and Georgia Tech. The loss was the seventh of the year for the Bears, against six wins, but in no way diminishes the stature of perhaps one of the best losing teams in this section of the country- The Bears, have caused mot-e headaches than were ex pected, especially after their slow start, losing four of their first five games ’Freshman Bruce Gordy did not play because of a virus infection and a bruised leg, but big Doug Porter came on strong for , the Bears and allowed Jud Roberts to move out to guard in the bid for yn upset. Marvin Bailey and Jim Graham continued to be twin terrors on the boards, giving away three inches'! and more in. height, but adding twice as much in fortitude. How ever, in one of the oddest statistics of the game, the 5-11 Bellior led the Bears in rebounds in the first half with five. Mercer continues to exhibit co hesive team work and a fine spirit as they battle teams that are usually., rated as favorites game after game. • . Coach Bobby Wilder refna’rkod . earlier in the season that this was , one of the finest teams ever, and ' ’tiie Bears are proving to be just that. yr-y:{ Open All Day Wednesday Friday Nlte 'Til 9! Support "South's Finest Cancellation Shoe Store" The DAVID’S shoes Bears 4U CHERRY ST. % o'- * \fr-' r ' - &*- i- .. 1. Jfe » ; , .A rrA * r*\ - ■>? ». v j i Jud Roberts grabs rabound in Marcar win over Florida Praabytarian