ESPN Men's Basketball

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) -- Courtney Pigram scored 29 points, posted 18 assists and grabbed eight rebounds, sparking East Tennessee State to a 112-89 win over Mercer on Saturday.

Pigram's assist total narrowly missed the team record of 19 set by Keith Jennings in 1991.

Mike Smith and Kenyona Swader, who was 6-for-9 from behind the arc, came off the bench to add 24 points each for the Buccaneers (22-8, 16-2 Atlantic Sun). Nick Tuggle sank 13 points and Eryk Thomas had 12.

Mercer (13-16, 8-10) remained close with East Tennessee until the Buccaneers broke open scoring with a 20-3 run that put them up 52-34 with 3:37 left in the first half. East Tennessee shot 61.1 percent (22-for-36) on the first half and 54.7 percent (41-for-75) for the game.

James Florence led scoring for the Bears with 27 points. Ross Alacqua netted 20 points, including five 3-pointers, Shaddean Aaron had 14 points and Brian Pfohl added 12 points. Sam Dolan grabbed nine rebounds.

East Tennessee scored 31 points off turnovers while Mercer had only 11 points.