College Basketball - Atlantic Sun Conference
Mercer Bears
| Location: Macon, GA University Founded: 1833 Enrollment:  5,000 Nickname: Bears Mascot: Toby the Bear School Colors: Orange and black Joined the A-Sun: 1978 Varsity Sports: 14 U. President: William D. Underwood Director of Athletics: Bobby Pope Basketball Head Coach: Bob Hoffman Conference (Co-) Champions: Reg. Season: 2003 Tournament:1981,'85 Basketball Arena: University Center Current Capacity: 3,500 |
Bob Hoffman came to replace 10 year long Head Coach Mark Slonaker for the 2009-2010 season.
The Bears have had 2 NCAA tournament appearences, their last back in 1985. It is the new coaches aspiration to make them repeat that feat, and perhaps, improve it, and get their team into the Sweet Sixteen or the Elite Eight.
During the 2002-2003 season Slonaker was named the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year, for the best one season turnaround in NCAA history as the team improved from 6-23 to 23-6 and won the Atlantic Sun regular season championship.
It was quite hard for the team to repeat that year's success the following years. Evenmore, the team has not been able to finish in the top 3 spots in the Atlantic Sun Conference ever since.
Entering the 2009-10 season, senior guard James Florence owns the highest career scoring average and ranks second in career points scored among current players, trailing only Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody.
The Mercer Bears have finished the 2008-2009 season with a 17-15 record overall and 11-9 mark in conference games. The team finished fifth in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Mercer 2009/2010 Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time/Result |
| 13-Nov | vs. Bucknell | W 89-80 |
| 14-Nov | vs. Bryant University | W 80-56 |
| 15-Nov | at Providence | L 79-77 |
| 18-Nov | Fisk | W 110-45 |
| 21-Nov | Florida State | L 89-50 |
| 27-Nov | at No. 25 Georgia Tech | L 85-74 |
| 3-Dec | Lipscomb | L 98-89 |
| 5-Dec | Belmont | L 94-90 |
| 10-Dec | Piedmont | W 87-62 |
| 21-Dec | at Vanderbilt | L 99-59 |
| 23-Dec | at Alabama | L 90-71 |
| 29-Dec | at Charlotte | L 91-80 |
| 2-Jan | at Jacksonville | W 75-74 |
| 4-Jan | at North Florida | W 84-79 |
| 7-Jan | Campbell | W 82-73 |
| 9-Jan | East Tennessee State | W 83-78 |
| 15-Jan | at USC Upstate | W 60-57 |
| 22-Jan | at Stetson | L 76-69 |
| 24-Jan | at Florida Gulf Coast | L 71-70 |
| 27-Jan | Kennesaw State | L 71-69 |
| 30-Jan | Stetson | W 91-57 |
| 1-Feb | Florida Gulf Coast | W 78-72 |
| 4-Feb | at Kennesaw State | 7:30 PM ET |
| 8-Feb | USC Upstate | 7:30 PM ET |
| 12-Feb | at Campbell | 7:00 PM ET |
| 14-Feb | at East Tennessee State | 4:00 PM ET |
| 18-Feb | North Florida | 7:30 PM ET |
| 20-Feb | Jacksonville | 3:30 PM ET |
| 25-Feb | at Belmont | 8:15 PM ET |
| 27-Feb | at Lipscomb | 4:15 PM ET |