MACON, Ga. – The Talladega College men's basketball team traveled to Macon, Georgia to face Mercer University in a friendly exhibition this afternoon. The Bears pulled out a 74-50 win over the Tornadoes.

Mercer jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the opening half, but Talladega's Corey Sands hit a three to make it a one-point game. The Bears pushed its lead to five off a three and a layup to take a 10-5 with 16:30 remaining.  A layup from Tornado Lamont Sams cut the lead to three but back-to-back free throws put the Bears back up five. Talladega kept the difference to single digits as it trailed 20-11 but was able to cut the lead to five off a layup and a dunk from D'Andre Boyd and Ethelbert Anum. Mercer closed out the half using a 19-10 run to take a 39-25 lead into halftime.

Coming out of halftime, Mercer looked to increase its lead as it hit back-to-back jumpers in the first two minutes. The Bears at one point were able to push its lead to 20 points before Sams cut the lead to under 20 with 13:20 left in the contest.  Mercer after that wouldn't let the lead get below 20 points for the remainder of the game as it cruised to a 74-50 win.

Talladega finished 18-of-28 (64.3%) from the foul line while shooting over 70 percent in the first half and over 58 percent in the second half.

JaVonni Bickham registered a game-high 10 points for Talladega while grabbing four boards in the process.

Teammate Boyd finished with eight points while leading the team in field goals made with three.

Sands and Issad Solano each finished with a three-pointer each for the Tornadoes.

Talladega is back in action on Saturday, Jan. 6 when it hosts conference rival Dillard University at 3 p.m.