Mercer Bears vs Winthrop Eagles Matchup

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

Mercer vs Winthrop Prediction

Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Bears and Eagles. The game is starting at 2:00 ET on ESPN+, and it's hosted by the Eagles at Winthrop Coliseum in Rock Hill, SC. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 158.5 points, with Winthrop being favored by -8.5 over Mercer.

Mercer vs. Winthrop Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Mercer Bears at Winthrop Eagles
Where: Rock Hill at Winthrop Coliseum
Date: Saturday, December 21st
Betting Odds WINTH -8.5, MERC +300 | WINTH -396 O/U 158.5

Bears Preview: Can Mercer Pull Out the Win as Road Underdogs?

Mercer Bears Recent Game/Games

Mercer’s season record dropped to 4-5 following a 73-66 loss to Queens (NC) on Wednesday. The Bears entered the game as +1 underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 139, falling short of the 160.5-point O/U line.

Mercer trailed 30-29 at halftime and allowed 43 points in the 2nd half while scoring 37 of their own. The Bears will look to tighten up defensively as they move forward.

Bears Offense Breakdown

Mercer struggled from beyond the arc in their last game, hitting just 4 of 25 threes for a 16% shooting percentage. Overall, they shot 37.9% from the field, with an effective field goal percentage of 40.9%.

Alex Holt led the way with 19 points and 8 rebounds, shooting 58.3% from the field. Nasir Mann added 15 points in 17 minutes, while Angel Montas Jr. contributed 14 points and 4 assists.

Bears Team Defense

Mercer’s defense gave up 73 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 40% from the field on 23 of 57 attempts. From two-point range, they held the other team to 39% shooting, allowing 15 of 38 shots to fall.

From beyond the arc, Mercer allowed 8 threes on 19 attempts, a 42% success rate. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 24 times, where they converted 19 shots for 79%. Mercer gave up 9 offensive rebounds in the game.

Eagles Preview: Will Winthrop Win at Home?

Winthrop Eagles Recent Game/Games

Winthrop fell to 6-4 on the season after an 82-64 road loss to Florida State on Tuesday. The Eagles entered the game as +11 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread.

After trailing 45-27 at halftime, Winthrop matched Florida State with 37 points in the 2nd half. The game’s total points of 146 fell short of the 159.5 O/U line.

Eagles Offense Breakdown

Winthrop struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 29.4% from the field and 25% from three-point range, finishing with 64 points. Their effective field goal percentage was 35.3%, and they hit 15 of 23 free throws for a 65.2% mark.

Malique Ewin was a standout, shooting 66.7% and grabbing 15 rebounds. Bryce Baker also contributed, hitting 6 threes at a 50% rate, while Chandler Jackson was perfect from deep, going 2 for 2.

Eagles Team Defense

Winthrop's defense struggled, giving up 82 points on 50% shooting from the field. The Eagles allowed 31 field goals on 61 attempts.

Inside the arc, Winthrop's opponents hit 58% of their shots, going 24/41. From three-point range, they shot 35%, making 7 of 20 attempts. The Eagles also sent them to the line 17 times, where they converted 13 free throws (76%).

Bears vs Eagles Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Across their ten previous road games, Mercer has an ATS mark of 3-7. Their straight up record in these matchups was 2-8 while averaging 67 points per game.
Across their last five home contests, Winthrop has a 4-1 record vs the spread. Their overall mark in these games was 1-4, while averaging 71 points per game.
In their last three games as the betting underdog, the Bears have a straight up record of 1-2 and an ATS mark of 2-1.
In their last five games as the betting favorite, the Eagles have a straight up record of 4-1, while going 2-3 against the spread.