Successful Season for Men's Basketball in 2023-24

6/11/24

 

Mercer men’s basketball was able to qualify for the Region 19 Playoffs for the first time since 2019.  The Vikings lost in the Semifinals to Raritan Valley.  

 

The Vikings had a very balanced team effort during the 2023-2024 season and had four players average in double figures in scoring: Sophomore Izaiah Johnson (Burlington, NJ/Burlington City) averaged 14.2 points per game, sophomore Justin Carbone (Monmouth Junction, NJ/South Brunswick) averaged 13.5 points per game, sophomore Jason Mark (Broward, FL/Blanche Ely HS) averaged 11.1 points per game and freshman Jayson Love (Philadelphia, PA/Academy at Palumbo) averaged 10.4 points per game.

 

Mark led the Vikings in rebounds, averaging 7.4 per game and Johnson averaged 5.1 per game.  Johnson was the Vikings assist leader, averaging 4.0 assists per game and Mark averaged 2.1 assists per game.  Johnson also averaged 1.5 steals per game.

 

The Vikings ranked in the top 50 in NJCAA Division II men’s basketball in a number of offensive categories including three point percentage: 36.85 which was 14^th best in the country, free throw percentage: 71.9%, which was 27^th best in the nation and field goal percentage: 45.6%, 49^th best in the country.

 

Mercer had five players shoot 50% or better from the field: sophomore Anthony Rhodes (Hamilton, NJ/Nottingham) shot 53.7%, Carbone shot 53.6% from the field, Love had a 52.1% field goal percentage, and sophomore Kristian Smith (Hamilton, NJ/Nottingham) shot 51.1% from the field and sophomore Isham McClain (Pemberton, NJ/Pemberton HS) shot 50% from field goal range.

 

The Vikings also shot well from three point range.  McClain, Rhodes and Smith all shot 50% from three point range.

 

Two Viking players earned All-Region 19 honors: Johnson and Mark.  Johnson earned First Team All-Region honors for the second straight season.  Johnson finished his MCCC career with 877 points, 277 rebounds, 220 assists, 119 threes made and 102 steals.  Mark finished his Viking career with 418 points, 268 rebounds, 79 assists and 29 blocks.

 

McClain finished his career at MCCC with 396 points, 260 rebounds, 103 assists, and 55 threes made.  Rhodes finished his Mercer career with 230 points and 163 rebounds.  In his Viking career, Smith had 136 points, 49 rebounds, 45 assists and 29 threes made.

 

A lot was accomplished on the court and off the court for the Vikings in 2023-2024 and a loss in the Region Semifinals does not diminish all that was achieved especially for the five two year players at MCCC.

 

For the latest on Viking men’s basketball, visit: https://www.mccc.edu/athletics_men_basketball.shtml