NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Travis Smith scored 22 points and Langston Hall sparked the definitive second-half run to propel Mercer to a 71-65 win over Lipscomb in Atlantic Sun Conference play.
Jakob Gollon added 11 and Bud Thomas pulled down 10 rebounds. Smith was 5 of 10 from the field and Hall hit 4 of 9 shots. The duo combined to go 17 of 19 from the free-throw line.
After Lipscomb's Malcolm Smith made a layup to draw the game to its fourth tie, 27-27, Hall converted two free throws that sparked a 16-5 run for the Bears.
Hall had eight points during the run and Smith added a 3-pointer.
Mercer (13-9, 6-3) shot 34.8 percent (8 of 23) in the first half but hit 11 of 16 after intermission en route to its third win in four games.
Deonte Alexander's 20 points led Lipscomb (8-12, 3-6), which made 9 of 31 second-half shots.
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