VMI Keydets vs Mercer Bears Prediction, 1/31/2026 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: VMI Keydets vs Mercer Bears

Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026

Location: Hawkins Arena in Macon, GA

TV: ESPN+

The VMI Keydets (6-15) are traveling to Hawkins Arena on Saturday where they will try to defeat the Mercer Bears (13-8).

The VMI Keydets stepped onto the hardwood against Western Carolina and took a loss by a score of 88-58 in their last contest. With respect to personal fouls, the Keydets ended up finishing with 5 while Western Carolina accumulated 8 personal fouls. They buried 13 out of their 32 shots from beyond the perimeter. Western Carolina ended up going 33.3% at the free throw line by making 1 of 3 attempts. Furthermore, Western Carolina pulled down 44 rebounds (17 offensive, 27 defensive), but wrapped up the game with no rejections. Western Carolina doled out 17 assists and had 6 steals for this contest. When it comes to the defense, VMI allowed the other team to go 51.4% from the field on 37 out of 72 shooting. They also recorded 9 dimes for the contest in addition to forcing the other team into 4 turnovers and earning 4 steals. With regard to getting rebounds, they compiled 18 with 4 of them being of the offensive variety. At the charity stripe, the Keydets made 5 of 6 shots for a rate of 83.3%. VMI walked away from the contest with a 39.6% field goal percentage (21 of 53) and buried 11 of 30 shots from 3-point land.

AJ Clark is a guy who was a major factor for this contest. He finished the contest at 60.0% from the field and distributed 1 assist. He saw the court for 32 mins played and also snagged 5 boards. He accounted for 17 points on 6 of 10 shooting.

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VMI will enter this contest with a record of 6-15 so far this year. They have an average of 73.2 points per game (260th in the nation) while going 40.2% from the field. The Keydets are hitting 32.9% on 3-pointers (228 of 694) and 70.9% from the free throw line. As a unit, VMI is pulling down 34.9 boards per game and has accumulated 261 assists for the year, which ranks 290th in D-1 in terms of passing the rock. They are turning it over 10.5 times per game and as a group are committing 17.5 fouls on a nightly basis.

When they are on the defensive end, the Keydets are able to force 12.1 turnovers per game and they draw 16.0 fouls. They are ranked 343rd in college hoops in giving up assists to the opposition with 350 conceded on the campaign. The Keydets are giving up an opponent shooting percentage of 44.7% (570 of 1,274) and they surrender 40.8 boards per contest as a squad. They concede 34.2% on shots from distance and they are ranked 277th in D-1 in PPG allowed (77.2).

In their last game, the Mercer Bears walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 80-77 against Wofford. The Bears collected 20 defensive rebounds and 6 offensive boards for a total of 26 for the game. They also turned the ball over 9 times, while earning 9 steals for the matchup. Wofford committed 17 fouls for this game which got the Bears to the free throw line for 22 attempts. They were able to make 19 of the free throw attempts for a percentage of 86.4%. In relation to shooting from beyond the arc, Mercer converted 8 out of their 24 tries (33.3%). Overall, the Bears walked away from this one shooting 25 for 59 from the floor which had them shooting 42.4%. The Bears allowed Wofford to make 30 out of their 64 attempts from the floor which left them with a rate of 46.9% in this matchup. They finished 44.4% from downtown by going 8 of 18 and finished the contest at 12 out of 15 from the charity stripe (80.0%). In regard to cleaning the glass, Mercer permitted Wofford to collect 36 overall (12 on the offensive glass).

Baraka Okojie was important for the Bears for the matchup. He recorded 27 points in his 38 mins of playing time and had 8 dimes in this game. He converted 7 out of 14 in the game giving him a rate of 50.0%, but wrapped this game up without a rebound.

Mercer has a record of 13-8 this season. The Bears commit 15.4 fouls every game while shooting 73.4% from the charity stripe. They are earning an assist 14.9 times per game (136th in college) and they turn it over 11.0 times per game. Mercer has totaled 1,785 points so far this year (85.0 per game) and they pull down 39.0 boards per contest. On the offensive side of the court, the Bears are shooting 46.6% from the field, which is ranked 114th in the country.

The Mercer defense allows 33.8% on shots from behind the 3-point line (184 of 544) and opponents are connecting on 72.0% of their shots from the charity stripe. They have allowed 12.6 assists and 37.5 total rebounds per game, which is 118th and 324th in the nation. The Bears defensively are ranked 225th in college in points allowed per contest with 75.3. They are forcing 13.8 TO's every game and allow teams to shoot 42.5% from the floor (110th in D-1).

Who will win tonight's NCAA game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Mercer

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