KENNESAW -- Every Kennesaw State opponent in the A-Sun knows the Owls, despite a brutal record, have the talent to take down anybody.

The team sharing first in the A-Sun knew it and saw it almost happen.

Mercer needed every play, tipped ball, bounce around the rim, smart pass, defensive stop and intangible play against the A-Sun’s cellar dwellars to avoid being shocked and humbled Friday night. Jake Gollon and Langston Hall sparked a key Mercer run in the second half as the Bears held on for a 61-57 win over Kennesaw State at the KSU Convocation Center.

The Bears and Owls faced off in a remarkable postseason atmosphere, perhaps a little surprising at the home of a three-win team. But Kennesaw State’s fan base more than showed out in hopes of seeing the biggest upset of the year in the A-Sun.

“This was better than Seton Hall, better than Georgia Tech, better than all those places,” Mercer head coach Bob Hoffman said of the electricity. “We were able to travel a lot of people, and they had a bigger crowd than when they played Georgia Tech.”

Hundreds of Kennesaw State fans wore gold “beat Mercer” t-shirts and others twirled “Owl towels.” Mercer filled two sections with the band nearby, and the overflow crowd stayed loud throughout a close game.

“The Kennesaw atmosphere, every time we play here, is just phenomenal,” Gollon said. “They pack this place out every time we play, and obviously the rivalry is building. It was hard to hear on the bench.”

And the record-setting crowd of 4,991 got more than its money’s worth in a game in which no more than six points separated the teams at any point and saw teams come up with big plays throughout. Mercer needed every one to improve to 20-7 overall and 12-2 in A-Sun play as Kennesaw State (3-23, 0-14) put forth an admirable effort.

“It’s a huge milestone,” Hoffman said of Mercer’s seventh 20-win season. “But we believe there’s more ahead.”

Gollon had a huge game, on the stat sheet and otherwise, with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting, seven assists, four steals and four rebounds in 39 minutes. As important as that was, he also defended Markeith Cummings, in his third year as one of the most dangerous players in the conference.

Cummings finished with 15 pointsm but only two came in the second half.

“Jake had a great game; he was everywhere,” Hall said. “Jake did an amazing job defensively in the second half.”

Bud Thomas had 14 points, Monty Brown 12 and Hall 11. Hall and Brown shared team rebounding honors with five each.

Spencer Dixon, on 5-of-8 3-point shooting, topped the Owls with 19 points with Delbert Love adding 15.

“We let them get too many rebounds, and they hit a lot of 3s,” Hall said. “They guarded us a lot better, a lot more discipline this time,” Hall said. “They shot the ball better (Friday).”

The game was a thriller from start to finish, thanks to defense, some big Kennesaw State shooting and Mercer having a good night from the floor.

Cummings didn’t take his first shot until the 12:59 mark of the first half, but he got going after that and helped the Owls to a few leads. He finished the first half with 13 of Kennesaw State’s 24 points.

Brown had eight first-half points for Mercer as the Bears, especially Gollon, looked inside regularly.

The big difference at the first half was at the line.

Mercer had seven fouls, and the Owls were 12-of-13 at the free-throw line. Kennesaw State had three fouls, and Mercer was 1-for-2, not going to the line until 2:36 remained.

The Bears finished 8-of-12 to 15-of-18 for the Owls.

The home crowd went nuts when Dixon’s 3-pointer from deep gave the Owls a 37-34 lead with 14:42 left in the game. The lead grew to six in a little more than a minute, in part because Hoffman was whistled for a technical after a non-call on a contact-filled Kennesaw State steal of Gollon that led to a layup and 41-36 lead.

Hoffman was near midcourt arguing when he was stuck with the technical, and he still was debating after the timeout.

Love made one free throw for the 42-36 advantage, and the threat of an upset filled the arena.

Hall and Gollon changed that.

Gollon scored twice and Hall add a three-point play and then a 3-pointer -- on superb Travis Smith-to-Gollon-to-Hall passing -- for a 49-44 Mercer lead at the 8:19 mark.

The Owls remained unfazed and pulled to within one on Dixon’s 3-pointer with 5:10 left. Thomas scored on a turnaround, and Gollon tied up the ball on a Kennesaw State rebound, Thomas making one free throw on the possession.

Brown was perfect on two free throws, and then Gollon -- after the Bears chased down a tipout on Hall’s missed free throw -- made two with 24 seconds left and a 60-54 lead to seal it.

Dixon made it interesting with a 24-footer, but the Bears closed out the dramatic win.

“That last 3 was unbelievable,” Hoffman said. “We were right there.”

But it was too late as Mercer survived to win its ninth straight game and reach that evasive 20-win milestone.

“It’s something to smile about,” Gollon said. “But it’s nothing to hang your hat on. We’ve got higher goals than just 20 wins.”