It's sold out already. (3,900 capacity)

University Center - Macon, GA

Senario "Da Sno-Mn" Hillman returned home to play in front of the WILCO faithful.

After a big upset win against O.J. Mayo and number 18th ranked USC (University of Southern California) Trojans. The Mercer Bears welcome 4SHOT Hoops first team All State player Senario “Da Sno-Man” Hillman and the Alabama Crimson Tide to town for their season opener. The win over USC gives Mercer its first victory over a ranked opponent since 1989 with a win over number 19 Arkansas-Little Rock.

The Bears are lead by 2005-2006 4SHOT Hoops second team player James Florence who poured in 30 points against USC and earns the Atlantic Sun co-player of the week. The Bears will have their hands full as they welcome back Senario “Da Sno-Man” Hillman who is from Wilkinson County about 35 miles west of Macon and SEC player of the week Richard Hendrix who scored 22 points 23 rebounds against Troy University. The game marks the 6^th meeting between the two teams with Alabama leading 4-1. Will the powerhouse SEC conference run through the Atlantic Suns Mercer or will there be another upset in middle Georgia? Let’s see! 

As Senario entered the floor there would be a mixture of boo’s and cheers. The Bears fans would boo but the Wilkinson County faithful would cheer for the home town hero. The “Sno-Man” would score his first basket on a deep three pointer to get things started and finish the game with 9 points 5 assist.

Mercer So.-James Florence (#0) still shows the defensive form that made him the 4SHOT Hoops Co-Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Wheeler H.S.

The X-Factor would be the inside presence of Alabama Center Richard Henrdrix who finished with a team high 28 points and 14 rebounds. Hendrix 6’9 frame and 255 pounds of muscle would deny Mercer its second straight victory at a sold out University Center 90-83.

The record setting crowd help boast it’s two stars in the Bears Shaddean Aaron and James Florence who both finished tied with the team high 22 points each. The inside presence of former Pace Academy star Brian Pfohl made a huge difference with 15 points and 6 rebounds.

After two huge turnovers in the first half, Coach Mark Gottfried had a talk with his star guard Alonzo Gee and he answered the toll in the second half going 2 for 2 from three point range. Gee finished with the second high score of 16 points along with 7 rebounds for the Tide.

The game could have gone either way but with Florence going 7 for 22 from the field, the chances where slim. It may not be Southern California but both teams were well tested. Look for the Bears and the Tide to do well in the up coming year.