Among small-conference college basketball programs, the Mercer Bears are one that fans need to know about it. The Bears are members of the Southern Conference, and throughout most of their history, cheap Mercer basketball tickets have been easy to find. But that may not be the case for much longer. The deeper we get into the 21st century, the more the profile of the program grows, especially after their memorable upset of Duke in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. That win, on top of other accomplishments, has taken the Bears to another level and made last-minute Mercer basketball tickets a hot commodity.

The Great 80s

Until the 1970s, the Bears competed at the NAIA and the Division II levels, making it easy for them to get lost in the shuffle. However, Mercer eventually moved to the Division I level and quickly made its way to the NCAA Tournament, appearing in the Big Dance in 1981 and 1985 as champions of the Atlantic Sun Conference. The Bears lost hard-fought games in the first round of both of those tournament appearances. However, that helped to lay the foundation for future success.

The Unthinkable

The rise of Mercer basketball started in 2008 when Bob Hoffman became the head coach. During his fourth year in charge, the Bears did the unthinkable when they won the CIT championship, capping off a 27-11 season. A year later, the Bears took a step forward, winning the Atlantic Sun regular-season title and advancing to the second round of the NIT. The program would reach new heights the next season when the Bears returned to the Big Dance and knocked off Duke in the first round. It was a monumental moment for Mercer basketball and something that most mid-major programs can only dream about.

Keep It Going

The win over Duke in 2014 wasn’t the end of Mercer basketball’s quest; it may have only been the beginning. The Bears moved to the Southern Conference the following year, taking another step up the college basketball ladder. Mercer has continued to make appearances in postseason tournaments and figures to remain a team to watch in the Southern Conference for many years to come.