Mercer leading scorer Ria’n Holland will miss at least 2-3 weeks with a right wrist injury, according to the program. He will then be evaluated once again after that timespan. Holland suffered the injury Jan. 18 in the second half of a 62-56 win over Virginia Military Institute.
Holland, a member of the Preseason All Southern Conference Team, is averaging 19.0 points per game on the season -- more than eight points higher than anyone else on the roster.
It won’t be the first time the Bears are without their star scorer this season. Holland has now missed four games in 2017-18, the first three during a stretch of games against Hiwassee, Tennessee and Memphis when the guard dealt with an ankle injury.
Holland missed Saturday’s contest against UNCG, a 70-66 loss in overtime, after suffering the wrist injury two days before that game. The Bears are 1-3 in games without Holland this season.
Before the injury to his shooting-hand wrist, Holland ranked second in the conference in scoring and fourth in 3-point field goal percentage at 48 percent. Ethan Stair will slide into the starting lineup; he has started all four games Holland has missed.
In those starts, Stair has stepped up in Holland’s absence, averaging 12.3 points and 3.5 rebounds. Junior forward Cory Kilby has also seen a spike in production in games without Holland on the floor: eight points per game without Holland and only 2.5 points with him.
The Bears have 11 games remaining in SoCon play before the conference tournament. Holland likely won’t return until Feb. 10 at Chattanooga or Feb. 12 at Samford -- if his next evaluation goes well.
Ria'n Holland out at least 2-3 weeks with right wrist injury
Holland missed Saturday’s contest against UNCG, a 70-66 loss in overtime, after suffering the wrist injury two days before that game. The Bears are 1-3 in games without Holland this season.
