After difficult finish, Mercer men's basketball team looks forward

After an 85-70 win at Samford on Feb. 1, the Mercer men's basketball team was 17-6 overall and 7-3 in the Southern Conference.

But then the Bears were rocked by the murder of Jibri Bryan, and that was followed by the suspensions of starters Jestin Lewis, a senior and the team's leading scorer, and Desmond Ringer. Lewis and Ringer didn't return, and head coach Bob Hoffman said it hasn't been decided if Ringer, a sophomore this season, will return next year.

Mercer won its first game after Bryan's death and the two suspensions but then lost nine of its final 10 games, including a 65-57 defeat at Coastal Carolina in the CIT to end the Bears' season.

Still, Hoffman is looking forward to this offseason and what's next for his program.

"I think we're in a better place, and we're getting back to being where we need to be," Hoffman said. "We certainly didn't finish the season the way we wanted to, but we're excited about next season and getting the program back to where we have been.

"I'll be surprised if we don't have one of the best offseasons we've ever had and if we don't have a good season next year."

TAKING THE NEXT STEP

Sophomores Stephon Jelks, Jordan Strawberry and Demetre Rivers all moved in the right direction this season, especially Rivers.

After scoring just six points total as a freshman, Rivers averaged 9.7 points per game and hit 43 3-pointers. Jelks averaged 11.7 points and 8.4 rebounds, while Strawberry averaged 8.1 points and 3.7 assists.

"Those three sophomores all took a big step forward for us this season, with Demetre taking the biggest step," Hoffman said. "If they all do that again next year, that's going to be big for us. Those three guys are all really hard workers, and I know they're going to do everything they have to do to be ready for next season."

MOVING UP

The absence of Lewis on the perimeter opened a spot in the starting lineup for freshman Ethan Stair and more playing time for fellow freshmen Jaylen Stowe and Cory Kilby.

Stair averaged 6.6 points per game, while Stowe and Kilby showed flashes in their extended minutes.

"Jaylen took advantage of his chances at the end of the year when he had his opportunities, and Cory did, as well," Hoffman said. "I thought Ethan had a really fine freshman season, and I was surprised he wasn't on the freshman all-conference team. I will tell you no one works harder than he does, and he will come back and have a good year for us next year."

NEW FACES

Madison Jones, 6-foot-1 guard from Wake Forest, is transferring to Mercer after playing 96 games in three seasons with the Demon Deacons. Jones will have one year of eligibility with the Bears.

Ross Cummings, a 6-3 guard from, Charlotte, Tennessee, and Darius Roy, a 6-2 guard from Lawton, Oklahoma, will be freshmen next season.

This story was originally published March 26, 2016 at 3:45 PM with the headline "After difficult finish, Mercer men's basketball team looks forward ."