Mercer Edges Georgia Southern 97-91 in Overtime
Dallas Gardner's two free throws in the final second forced overtime before Mercer pulled away.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Basketball
Mercer defeated Georgia Southern 97-91 in overtime on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. Georgia Southern led 46-39 at halftime and 74-69 with just over three minutes left in regulation before Mercer rallied.
Why it matters
The win gives Mercer a decisive result against a Georgia opponent early in the season, while Georgia Southern drops to 1-2 on the year. The game showed how a late free-throw sequence can decide a close contest.
Dallas Gardner finished with 28 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks, while Truman Claytor IV added 19 points on five three-pointers. Georgia Southern's 14 made three-pointers were not enough to offset Mercer's advantages in the paint and on the glass.
The players
Mercer
Mercer is a university in Macon, Georgia, whose basketball program competes in NCAA Division I.
Georgia Southern
Georgia Southern University is a public university in Statesboro, Georgia, and its athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I.
Dallas Gardner
Dallas Gardner is a basketball player for Mercer whose late free throws tied the game and whose 28-point effort led the team.
The details
Dallas Gardner tied the game at 78 with two free throws in the final second of regulation, forcing overtime. Mercer pulled ahead in the extra period and made four free throws in the final 17 seconds to seal the 97-91 win.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 10, 2026: Mercer defeats Georgia Southern 97-91 in overtime.
Friday, November 13, 2026, 8 p.m.: Georgia Southern plays UCF in Orlando.
Season Trajectory
The result is an early-season data point in the NCAA Division I men's basketball calendar, where each non-conference win or loss shapes a team's standing before conference play. For Georgia Southern, the 1-2 start now heads into a road trip to face UCF in Orlando.
Fans tracking Georgia Southern's early schedule now have a concrete next game against UCF on November 13. Those following Mercer can note the win as the team's first step into its season's competitive stretch.
The takeaway
Close games are often decided in the final seconds, so pay attention to late-game free-throw execution. Mercer's win shows how one clutch sequence can change the outcome of an entire contest.
What happens next
Georgia Southern is scheduled to play UCF in Orlando on Friday, November 13, 2026, at 8 p.m.
Further reading
For more college hoops coverage across the state, see Basketball on the Georgia sports page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ABC 22 - WJCL Savannah.
