The VMI Keydets and the Mercer Bears meet Saturday in college basketball action from Hawkins Arena. 

VMI enters this matchup at 8-7 overall. The Keydets are 2-1 in their last three games with wins over the Citadel and Furman. As for Mercer, they’re currently 9-4 this year. The Bears have won consecutive games over Western Carolina and the Citadel. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place. 

VMI began their season at 2-2, then went on a three-game win streak over Greensboro, Hampton and CU Harrodsburg. After three straight losses, the Keydets are 3-2 in their last five. The wins in that span have come courtesy of Chattanooga, the Citadel and Furman. 

In Wednesday’s 74-73 win over the Paladins, VMI’s top scorer was Greg Parham with 24 points, four assists and two rebounds. Jake Stephens added 15 points with 14 rebounds and two assists, and Trey Bonham posted 13 points with three boards and one assist in 30 minutes. 

Over on the Mercer side, they started out well on a six-game win streak before falling to Georgia State on December 16. Over their last six games the Bears have gone 3-3 with losses to Wofford, Furman and Chattanooga alongside wins over Kennesaw State, Western Carolina and the Citadel. 

In Wednesday’s 83-63 win over the Bulldogs, Mercer’s Leon Ayers topped the team on 23 points with eight boards and three assists. Maciej Bender put up 15 points and six boards in 27 minutes, and Neftali Alvarez notched 13 points with seven assists and four rebounds. 

The Bears are 6-14 ATS in the last 20 Saturday games and 2-6 ATS in their last eight overall. The under is 11-3 in Mercer’s last 14 Saturday games and the over is 7-3 in their last 10 overall. 

Meanwhile, the Keydets are 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall and 6-2 ATS in their last eight Saturday games. The over is 4-1 in VMI’s last five overall and the under is 5-2 in their last seven road games. 

PICK: I like VMI in this one. The Bears’ results have been mixed over their last six games, but they’ve also been scoring well. Mercer has notched 77 or more points in 12 of 13 outings this season, but have also been giving up a lot on the other side. VMI has hit 71 or more in each of their last six games, so I think the Keydets can keep the pace here and bang out a cover.