The Mercer Bears and the Western Michigan Broncos meet Saturday in college basketball action from the Arena at NW Florida State. Mercer is fresh off a one-point win over Tennessee State, bringing the Bears to 2-3 overall. As for Western Michigan, they eked out a one-point win over SE Louisiana on Friday for their first victory of the season. Here’s our Mercer vs Western Michigan prediction.

Mercer Bears 

The Bears posted just one win in their first four games this year, a 66-61 outcome versus Chicago State. Otherwise Mercer lost to Clark Atlanta, Morehead State and Alabama in that time. Matched up in a difficult game versus the Tide, the Bears shot just 21.4 percent from 3-point range and got out-rebounded 44-30. 

On Friday versus Tennessee State, the Bears got their second win of the season. It didn’t come easily though, as Mercer nearly blew a 32-17 halftime lead in a 60-59 result. Leading the way was Robby Carmody with 15 points and three rebounds. Amanze Ngumezi added 12 points and eight boards. 

Western Michigan Broncos 

Over on the Western Michigan side, they opened up the season with a rough four-game skid. The Broncos lost to North Dakota State (OT) in game one, then fell to Georgia State, Northwestern and Ohio State in the next trio. In the Buckeyes game, Western Michigan hit just 37.1 percent from the field and took a 20-point deficit into halftime on the way to a 73-56 result. 

The Broncos finally got into the W column on Friday versus Tennessee State. Western Michigan was up 34-24 going into the second half and held on for the finish 68-67. Seth Hubbard was the leading scorer on the team with 18 points and six boards, while Owen Lobsinger added 14 points and eight rebounds. 

ANDREW’S FREE WESTERN MICHIGAN VS MERCER PREDICTION 

I’ll probably just go with Mercer in this one. Granted, there’s not a lot to get excited about here if you’re not a fan of either team—it should be a pretty good matchup, though. Mercer is coming off a nice showing versus a pretty decent Tennessee State team. The Bears hit 47.8 percent from the field in the win, along with 47.4 percent (9-of-19) from outside and 35 rebounds. 

As for Western Michigan, they hit 49 percent from the field with 50 percent (13-of-26) from 3-point range in their Friday victory. Saturday’s matchup could finish a lot of different ways, as Mercer hasn’t cracked 67 points at all so far this year, and the Broncos have scored 68 or fewer in three straight. It’ll be a fun one to watch though, and I like Mercer to eke out the cover.