MERCER BEARS MEN'S BASKETBALL
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Ryan Ridder has directed Mercer toward Southern Conference contention with a 17-10 record that masks significant home-court dominance: the Bears remain undefeated at 12-0 inside Hawkins Arena while struggling to 5-10 on the road. Founded in 1833, Mercer University fields this 16-player roster from its Macon, Georgia campus of 9,124 students, where the basketball program operates within the broader D1-FCS athletic structure. The Bears' offensive output of 82.9 points per game outpaces their defensive concessions of 74.3, a differential that has proven decisive during Ridder's tenure building Southern Conference consistency.
Conference play reveals the formula behind Mercer's home success, with the Bears posting a 5-4 conference record that positions them competitively within the league standings. Ridder's emphasis on arena chemistry manifests in the perfect 12-0 home mark, suggesting that once Mercer develops greater comfort in hostile venues, the program's overall win total and conference standing could improve substantially. The 16-player roster size maintains manageable rotations at Hawkins Arena, where the Bears continue developing the road resilience necessary for postseason positioning.
KEY FACTS
| School | Mercer University |
| Sport | Men's Basketball |
| Conference | Southern Conference |
| Division | D1-FCS |
| Location | Macon, Georgia |
| Venue | Hawkins Arena |
| Head Coach | Ryan Ridder |
ROSTER (2025-26)
| # | Name | Pos |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Braeden Carlsen | G |
| 22 | Jaydon Cole | G |
| 5 | Kyle Cuffe Jr. | G |
| 14 | TJ Grant | G |
| 10 | Tristan Gross | G |
| 15 | Alex Koch | F |
| 26 | Armani Mighty | C |
| 0 | NJ Nganga | G |
| 6 | Baraka Okojie | G |
| 12 | Petras Padegimas | F |
| 3 | Quinton Perkins II | G |
| 8 | Bendji Pierre | F |
| 2 | Connor Serven | F |
| 11 | Brady Shoulders | G |
| 1 | Zaire Williams | G |
| 18 | Pero Zubac | F |
SEASON RECORD
19-13
Overall
14-2
Home
5-11
Away
7-6
Conference
82.7 PPG / 75.5 Opp PPG
SCHEDULE (2025-26)
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 4 | Tennessee Volunteers | L 61-76 |
| Nov 6 | LaGrange Panthers | W 101-62 |
| Nov 9 | Lipscomb Bisons | W 92-77 |
| Nov 15 | Winthrop Eagles | L 69-105 |
| Nov 22 | Eastern Kentucky Colonels | W 95-83 |
| Nov 26 | App State Mountaineers | W 75-67 |
| Nov 29 | Elon Phoenix | W 91-84 |
| Dec 3 | Georgia State Panthers | W 78-67 |
| Dec 7 | Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels | W 100-50 |
| Dec 13 | Clemson Tigers | L 63-70 |
| Dec 18 | UCF Knights | L 63-81 |
| Dec 20 | Washington State Cougars | L 78-84 |
| Dec 28 | Baptist (Fl) Eagles | W 122-49 |
| Dec 31 | Furman Paladins | L 72-74 |
| Jan 3 | East Tennessee State Buccaneers | L 71-77 |
| Jan 8 | The Citadel Bulldogs | W 101-63 |
| Jan 10 | Wofford Terriers | W 109-97 |
| Jan 15 | VMI Keydets | W 77-67 |
| Jan 17 | UNC Greensboro Spartans | W 102-92 |
| Jan 22 | Western Carolina Catamounts | W 88-76 |
| Jan 24 | Wofford Terriers | L 77-80 |
| Jan 30 | UNC Greensboro Spartans | W 95-77 |
| Jan 31 | VMI Keydets | W 95-81 |
| Feb 6 | Chattanooga Mocs | L 75-79 |
| Feb 7 | Samford Bulldogs | L 49-69 |
| Feb 12 | Furman Paladins | W 69-64 |
| Feb 14 | The Citadel Bulldogs | W 70-54 |
| Feb 20 | Chattanooga Mocs | L 90-94 |
| Feb 21 | Samford Bulldogs | W 89-86 |
| Feb 26 | Western Carolina Catamounts | L 74-78 |
| Feb 28 | East Tennessee State Buccaneers | W 82-76 |
| Mar 8 | Western Carolina Catamounts | L 73-77 |
ANALYTICS
+7.2
Pt Diff
L1
Streak
53.8%
SOS
#232
T-Rank
Barthag: 0.3588
103.1
Adj O
108.5
Adj D
OTHER SPORTS AT MERCER
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL PROGRAMS
MORE MEN'S BASKETBALL IN GEORGIA
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Georgia Men's Basketball ProgramsFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What conference does Mercer Men's Basketball compete in?
- Mercer Bears Men's Basketball competes in the Southern Conference conference at the NCAA D1-FCS level.
- Where does Mercer play men's basketball home games?
- Mercer Men's Basketball plays home games at Hawkins Arena in Macon, GA.
- Who is the head coach of Mercer Men's Basketball?
- The head coach of Mercer Bears Men's Basketball is Ryan Ridder.
- When was Mercer Men's Basketball program established?
- The establishment date for Mercer Men's Basketball is not currently available.