| MATCHUP | UNC Greensboro Spartans | Mercer Bears |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 8-13 | 13-8 |
| Where | Hawkins Arena, Macon, GA | |
| When | Thursday, January 29, 2026 | |
| Time | 07:00 PM EST | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
The UNC Greensboro Spartans and the Mercer Bears meet Thursday in college basketball action from Hawkins Arena in Macon. Here’s a UNC Greensboro vs Mercer prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best UNC Greensboro vs Mercer pick. We will examine the recent form and player performances for both teams, as well as the recent betting trends and streaks pertaining to this matchup. As we conclude, we will tie it all together with a summary that produces a sensible pick for a favorable betting outcome in this game.
UNC Greensboro Spartans Betting Preview
This year the Spartans opened up on a rough 1-8 run with a lone win over Youngstown State during that time. UNC Greensboro would beat East Carolina, William Peace, Virginia-Lynchburg, Chattanooga and Samford in the next six games, but they’ve since gone just 2-4. Those wins came over the Citadel and VMI. Across 21 games so far this year that gives the Spartans an 8-13 run.
In the Furman game last Friday, the Spartans entered the second half looking up at a 35-30 deficit on the scoreboard. UNC Greensboro didn’t get any closer than that, suffering through a 54-36 disadvantage the rest of the way in a loss at home 89-66. Leading the team in scoring was Justin Neely with 20 points and nine rebounds. KJ Younger added 17 points with five rebounds.
Mercer Bears Betting Preview
Over on the Bears’ side, they posted a solid 7-2 run over their first nine games, taking losses to only Tennessee and Winthrop. A 1-5 stretch came next with losses to Clemson, UCF, Washington State, Furman and East Tennessee State, though. After a five-game win streak that stretched from January 7 to January 21, Mercer took a loss to Wofford in their last game. That gives the Bears a 13-8 record so far.
Matched up against Wofford last weekend, the Bears were in the locker room with a comfortable lead 43-36. Mercer was outpaced 44-34 in the second half however, leading to a loss on the road 80-77. Baraka Okojie was the leading team scorer with 27 points and eight assists. Connor Serven added 14 points with five rebounds and Brady Shoulders had 12 points with four boards.
North Carolina-Greensboro Spartans @ Mercer Bears Betting Trends: January 29, 2026
Why the Mercer Bears will win
- Mercer has won each of its last 10 games at Hawkins Arena against non-AP-ranked opponents.
- North Carolina-Greensboro has lost the first half in five of its last six games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
Why the North Carolina-Greensboro Spartans will win
- The road team has won each of North Carolina-Greensboro’s last three games.
UNC Greensboro vs Mercer Prediction
I’ll stick with Mercer. The Bears lost on the road to a pretty good Wofford team in their last outing, thanks mostly to a 36-26 rebounding deficit and a 40-30 disadvantage on points in the paint. Mercer shot 42.4 percent from the field with just nine turnovers themselves, adding a nice 86.4 percent (19-of-22) from the line. The Bears are still 5-1 in their last six games though, scoring 77 or more points in all of those outings.
These teams last saw each other back on January 17 in a 102-92 road win for the Bears. Both teams shot well in that one (60.8 percent for Mercer and 50.8 percent for UNCG), but the Bears hit 50 percent (10-of-20) from outside and had a 28-19 rebounding edge. If Mercer can cut down on their mistakes (15 turnovers) and the Spartans’ shooting percentage during the home rematch, they should be looking good.