Mercer Bears vs VMI Keydets Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Mercer vs VMI NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Lexington.

Mercer vs VMI Prediction

Betting on today's Bears and Keydets game? Catch the action at Cameron Hall in Lexington, VA, as the Keydets hosts this showdown at 4:30 ET on ESPN+. Mercer is favored by -5.5 in this Southern conference matchup the against VMI. The over/under for the game is set at 155.5 points.

Mercer vs. VMI Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Mercer Bears at VMI Keydets
Where: Lexington at Cameron Hall
Date: Saturday, January 4th
Betting Odds MERC -5.5, MERC -251 | VAMIL +200 O/U 155.5

Bears Preview: Can Mercer Live Up to the Hype on the Road?

Mercer Bears Recent Game/Games

Mercer evened their season record to 6-6 with a 99-94 home win over Chattanooga on Wednesday. The Bears entered the game as +1.5 point underdogs and covered the spread with the win.

Mercer led 42-37 at halftime and scored 43 points in the 2nd half, but allowed 48 points. The total points for the game reached 193, surpassing the O/U line of 154.5.

Bears Offense Breakdown

Mercer put up 99 points in their last game, shooting 44.6% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 54.1%. They knocked down 15 of 30 threes, hitting at a 50% clip, while their two-point shooting was just 40.9% (18/44). At the free-throw line, they connected on 66.7% of their attempts, going 18 for 27.

Tyler Johnson led the way with 26 points, shooting 66.7% overall and 57.1% from three. Ahmad Robinson added 25 points and 10 assists, despite shooting 39.1% from the field. Cam Bryant was efficient, hitting 5 of 6 threes and finishing with 17 points, while Alex Holt contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Bears Team Defense

Mercer’s defense struggled, giving up 94 points on 44% shooting from the field. They allowed 33 made baskets on 74 attempts.

From beyond the arc, the opposing team hit 15 threes on 30 attempts, shooting 50%. Mercer also sent them to the line 27 times, where they made 18 free throws.

Keydets Preview: Are VMI Ready for a Home Win?

VMI dropped to 2-8 on the season after an 84-69 loss to East Tennessee State on Wednesday. The Keydets were +16 point underdogs heading into the game but managed to cover the spread.

After a 38-38 tie at halftime, VMI struggled in the 2nd half, scoring just 31 points while allowing 46. The game’s total points (153) went over the pre-game line of 147.

Keydets Offense Breakdown

In their last game, VMI put up 69 points, shooting 42.3% from the field and 41.2% from three-point range. Their effective field goal percentage was 50%, and they hit 72% of their free throws, going 18-for-25 from the line. The Keydets grabbed 10 offensive rebounds and dished out 14 assists.

John Buggs III was the standout performer, scoring 33 points on 11-of-18 shooting, including 10-of-16 from beyond the arc. Jaden Seymour also had a strong game, recording a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while adding 10 assists.

Keydets Team Defense

VMI's defense struggled in their last game, giving up 84 points while allowing the opposition to shoot 48% from the field. They had particular trouble defending the three-point line, where their opponents knocked down 17 of 40 attempts, good for 42%.

Inside the arc, VMI allowed 13 two-point baskets on 22 attempts, a 59% shooting percentage. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 11 times, where they converted 7 of those attempts. VMI gave up 11 offensive rebounds in the game.

Bears vs Keydets Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

When looking at their past five road matchups, Mercer has an ATS record of 4-1 while averaging 79 per game. The team went 2-3 overall in these games.
When looking at their past five home matchups, VMI has an ATS record of 4-1 while averaging 67 per game. The team went 0-5 overall in these games.
Going back to their previous three games as the underdog, VMI has an ATS mark of 2-1 while going 0-3 straight up.
The Bears have played well in their last three games as the betting favorite, going 3-0 straight up and 2-1 against the spread.