ELON, NC -- Aleem Muhammad poured in 21 points as Mercer staved off Elon 79-67 in nonconference men’s basketball action Saturday night at Alumni Gym. Muhammad canned eight of his 14 attempts from the field in the season opener for both teams.

The Bears (1-0) used a 14-5 spurt to stretch a 34-27 halftime edge into a 48-32 advantage with 15:52 remaining in the contest. The Phoenix (0-1) would rise again, making a 19-10 surge later to pull within 70-63 with 1:58 left, but could move no closer.

Mercer outperformed Elon in field goal percentage (53.1 percent-45.6), three-point field goal accuracy (36.4 percent-28.6), free throw marksmanship (79.3 percent-61.1), rebounding (34-27) and steals (6-4). The Phoenix held edges in assists (12-10), turnovers (14-16) and blocked shots (3-2).

Scott Emerson (18 points, a game-high 13 rebounds), Delmar Wilson (15 points) and Clarence Baker (13 points, three assists, a game-high three steals) all turned in double figures in the scoring department for the Bears. Gary Marsh (16 points, six rebounds), Shamar Johnson (11 points, a game-high two blocks), Ross Sims (10 points, a game-high six assists) and Steven Harvin (10 points, three assists) paced the Phoenix.

Elon returns to action Tuesday when it hosts St. Mary’s (MD) at 8 p.m. in Alumni Gym. The contest caps a doubleheader with the Phoenix women’s basketball team (0-1), which hosts Davidson at 6 p.m.

Game Box Score

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