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Mercer shocks Duke 78-71 in NCAA tourney opener
APTOPIX NCAA Mercer D Werm
Mercer forward Jakob Gollon (20) celebrates a basket against Duke during the first half of a second-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament Friday in Raleigh, N.C. - photo by Associated Press
RALEIGH, N.C. — Senior-laden Mercer went into Duke's backyard and pulled off the biggest upset of the NCAA tournament so far Friday, beating the Blue Devils 78-71 and likely ending Jabari Parker's short college career. The 14th-seeded Bears, from the same league that produced last year's tournament darlings "Dunk City" of Florida Gulf Coast, came back from five points down in the last 4:52 as Duke's offense collapsed. Jakob Gollon scored 20 points and Daniel Coursey scored 17, helping the Bears overcome a season-high 15 3-pointers from Duke.