Mercer Hosts Furman in SoCon Matchup

Paladins' Cooper Bowser looks to bounce back after scoring 20 in loss to UNC Greensboro

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Furman University's men's basketball team will face off against the Mercer Bears on Wednesday in a Southern Conference (SoCon) matchup. This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season. Mercer currently holds a 7-5 record against other SoCon opponents, while Furman is looking to rebound after a close 67-64 loss to UNC Greensboro in which Paladins guard Cooper Bowser scored 20 points.

Why it matters

This SoCon matchup between Furman and Mercer is an important conference game for both teams as they look to improve their standings and positioning for the upcoming SoCon tournament. Bowser's strong performance in the loss to UNC Greensboro also makes this an intriguing game, as the Paladins will look to get their star guard more involved against Mercer.

The details

Furman is coming off a tough 67-64 loss to UNC Greensboro in which Cooper Bowser scored 20 points for the Paladins. Mercer, meanwhile, holds a 7-5 record against other SoCon opponents so far this season. This will be the first meeting between the two teams in the 2025-26 campaign.

  • The Furman-Mercer game is scheduled for Wednesday, February 12, 2026.

The players

Cooper Bowser

A guard for the Furman Paladins who scored 20 points in the team's recent loss to UNC Greensboro.

Mercer Bears

The men's basketball team from Mercer University, who currently hold a 7-5 record against other Southern Conference opponents.

Furman Paladins

The men's basketball team from Furman University, who are looking to bounce back from a close loss to UNC Greensboro in their upcoming matchup against Mercer.

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The takeaway

This SoCon matchup between Furman and Mercer represents an important conference game for both teams as they jockey for position in the standings. Furman will look to get a bounce-back performance from star guard Cooper Bowser, who scored 20 points in the team's recent loss, while Mercer aims to continue its strong play against conference opponents.