For the first �me in the school’shistory, Mercer University will host the2010 and 2011 Atlan�c Sun (A-Sun)Conference Tournament for Men’s andWomen’s Basketball championships. The2010 tournament will be held atMercer’s University Center on March 3 –6. In 2008, A-Sun combined the men’sand women’s basketball tournaments tobe held at one venue, and it has

remained combined since then. The A-Sun championship returns to Georgia foronly the fi�h �me, and the first �mesince Georgia State hosted the women’stournament in 1999, and men’stournament in 2003. When theannouncement was made last year thatMercer would host the 2010 and 2011 A-Sun Basketball Championships, A-SunCommissioner Ted Gumbart said, “Weare very excited to bring our premier

event to Macon, and we look forward toMercer University serving as host for theGeneral Shale Brick A-Sun BasketballChampionships for the next two years.”He added, “Mercer has an outstandingfacility, provides a central loca�on for A-Sun fans, and the Mercer community willdo an outstanding job as hosts. Onbehalf of the membership, we extendour thanks to Mercer UniversityPresident William D. Underwood for hissincere interest in bringing the event tothe University Center and we lookforward to con�nuing a tradi�on ofexcellence and growth by having ourchampionships here in 2010 and 2011.”The Atlan�c Sun was founded in 1978and moved to Macon, GA in 1992.Mercer has been part of the league sinceits incep�on.

Mercer’s $40 million University Centerfirst opened for basketball in 2004 andseats 3,200. Basketball a�endance atMercer’s University Center has seen asignificant increase over the past twoyears, largely through the support of theMiddle Georgia community and ac�vecommunity involvement of head coachesBob Hoffman and Janell Jones.

Bob Hoffman is in his second season ashead coach of the Mercer Universitymen’s basketball program. In his firstseason, Hoffman made an immediatemark. He guided the 2008 – 2009 Bearsto a 17 – 15 overall record and 11 – 9 inAtlan�c Sun Conference play. It was theBears' most wins since the 2002 – 03season, and their first winning mark inconference play since 2004 – 05. Thenew era in Mercer men’s basketballbegan on March 27, 2008 when Hoffmanwas introduced as the new head coach.When Hoffman accepted the head coachposi�on, he was quoted as saying, “I amvery excited about the poten�al atMercer. I was overwhelmed by theprospects we saw when we visited thecampus. I could tell that the Mercer

32 MyTown February/March 2010 www.mytownmonthly.com | Facebook Page : MyTown Monthly magazine

Atlantic Sun Men’s and Women’sBasketball ChampionshipsHosted by Mercer University

Wednesday, March 3 – Saturday, March 6

administra�on is commi�ed todeveloping a highly successful men'sbasketball program.”

Janell Jones is in her third season as headcoach of the Mercer University women’sbasketball program. In her first twoseasons at Mercer, Jones displayed herability to transform a program, a qualitythat has proven consistent throughouther eight-year head coaching career. Lastseason, the Bears enjoyed the biggestRPI turnaround in the country accordingto CollegeRPI.com, jumping from No. 315at the conclusion of the 2007 – 2008season, to No. 162 in the final week ofthe 2008 – 2009 campaign. Last year,Jones guided the Bears to the program’sfirst conference tournament victory since2006 and highest win total since the1991 – 1992 season. This year, Joneslooks to con�nue the trend ofimprovement and lead Mercer to its firstever Atlan�c Sun Championship.

Game TimesWednesday – ThursdayWomen’s Quarterfinal 12 p.m.Men’s Quarterfinal 2:30 p.m.Women’s Quarterfinal 6:30 p.m.Men’s Quarterfinal 9 p.m.FridayWomen’s Semifinal 12 p.m.Women’s Semifinal 2:30 p.m.Men’s Semifinal 6:30 p.m.Men’s Semifinal 9 p.m.

SaturdayWomen’s Final 12 p.m.Men’s Final 6 p.m.

(ESPN2 will carry the game)

All the games, except the men’s final canbe seen on the conference’s web-streaming channel, www.ASun.TV.

Ticket InformationTournament Tickets $75 (Adults)$50 (Seniors ages 62 years and older)$50 (Students ages 12 – 22 years and

older with valid college student ID)$20 (Youth ages 6 – 11 years)Free (Children ages 5 years and younger)

Session Tickets $15 (Adults)$10 (Seniors ages 62 years and older)$10 (Students ages 12 – 22 years and

older with valid college student ID)$5 (Youth ages 6 – 11 years)Free (Children ages 5 years and younger)

To Order TicketsTickets are on sale the day of the gamesbeginning at 10 a.m. Tickets can bepurchased at the door, by phone, oronline. Doors to the University CenterArena will open one hour prior to firstgame of each session.

To order by phone: (478) 301-5470To order online: www.mercerbears.com

Teams in the AtlanticSun Conference (A-Sun)Belmont (Joined in 2001)Lipscomb (Joined in 2003)East Tennessee State (Joined in 2005)Campbell (Joined in 1994)Kennesaw State (Joined in 2005; men’s

first �me eligible)Mercer (Joined in 1978)South Carolina Upstate (Joined in 2007;

not eligible for the tournament) North Florida (Joined in 2005; men’s

first �me eligible)Jacksonville (Joined in 1998)Stetson (Joined in 1985)Florida Gulf Coast (Joined in 2007;

not eligible for the tournament)

A-Sun Men’s BasketballPlayers from Georgia

Campbell12 Junard Hartley Atlanta, GA (Whitefield Acad.)23 Chris Reynolds Augusta, GA (Glenn Hills)

East Tennessee State 10 De'Shaud Johnson Riverdale, GA (King College)44 J.C. Ward Marie�a, GA (Marie�a HS)

Jacksonville2 Russell Powell Newnan, GA (Newnan HS)3 Ben Smith Dublin, GA (Dublin HS)14 Josh Sparks Savannah, GA (Sav. Christ. Acad.) 15 Chris Edwards Albany, GA (Westover HS)41 Lehmon Colbert Roberta, GA (Crawford Co. HS)

Kennesaw State3 Kelvin McConnell Smyrna, GA (Whitefield Acad.)5 Spencer Dixon Marie�a, GA (Kennesaw Mtn. HS)12 Jay Mitchell LaGrange, GA (LaGrange HS)14 Ma� Heramb Douglasville, GA (Chapel Hill HS) 15 LaDaris Green Savannah, GA (Beach HS)23 Junior Ajayi Atlanta, Ga (Riverdale HS)32 James McRae Brunswick, GA (Brunswick HS)40 Romain Henry Atlanta, GA (Stephenson HS) 41 Jonathan Whipple Gordon, GA(Wilkinson Co. HS)

Lipscomb1 Brandon Barnes Douglasville, GA (Chapel Hill HS)

Mercer0 James Florence Marie�a, GA (Wheeler HS)22 BeJay Corley Marie�a, GA (Wheeler HS) 23 Chris Smith Dublin, GA (Dublin HS)25 Brian Mills Douglasville, GA (Chapel Hill HS) 33 Daniel Emerson St. Mary's, GA (Camden Co. HS)50 David O'Shaughnessey Macon, GA (Stra�ord)

North Florida 3 Parker Smith Columbus, GA (Chestatee HS)25 Germaine Sparkes Hinesville, GA (Liberty Co. HS)

A-Sun Women’s BasketballPlayers from Georgia

Belmont3 Kris�n Nash Stone Mountain, GA (Dunwoody HS)15 Kris�n Bunch Faye�eville, GA (Faye�e County)

East Tennessee State 44 Siarre Evans Griffin, GA (Spalding HS)

Jacksonville4 Courtney Jackson Atlanta, GA (North Atlanta)5 Drameka Griggs Jonesboro, GA (Jonesboro)20 Crystal Grable Sparta, GA (Hancock Central)23 Danielle Gray Stone Mountain, GA (Stephenson) 24 Lynsey Paschal Fairburn, GA (Sandy Creek) 32 Abril Peeples Americus, GA (Americus Sumnter)

Kennesaw State3 Rachel Loe Kennesaw, GA (N. Cobb Chris�an HS)11 Greteya Kelley Lawrenceville, GA (Collins HS)15 Kayla Weaver Ringgold, GA (Lakeview-Ft. Oglethorpe HS)

20 Gia Locke� Snellville, GA (South Gwinne� HS)

Mercer5 Sharmesia Smith Jonesboro, GA (Jonesboro HS)12 Neicey Lewis Riverdale, GA (Heritage HS)14 Alex Phillips Duluth, GA (Duluth HS)21 Kendra Grant Macon, GA (Rutland HS)33 Amber Chatmon Albany, GA (Albany HS)

North Florida 10 Bri�any Kirkland Monroe, GA (Monroe HS)

February/March 2010 MyTown 33