MACON, Ga. — It's a Central Georgia moment that many sports fans won't soon forget. Ten years ago, the Mercer men’s basketball team defied the odds and upset Duke, a blue-blood powerhouse, in the NCAA tournament.
Marvin James was there at that big game all those years ago. But to this day, the memory of that moment — and the bond the group shares — still lingers with those players a decade later.
He spoke with nine former players on a video conference call and discovered it wasn't just a big win, but actually a bigger boost in the friendship for these Mercer grads.
"At the time it was the biggest win we had," Bud Thomas said. "We were all on cloud nine thinking we had everything we wanted to do and needed to do."
Thomas now lives in Denver working in the car finance industry. Back in March 2014, Mercer just won the A-Sun conference championship. That win over Florida Gulf Coast, earned a berth in the "big dance" of March Madness. Then came selection Sunday to find out who the Bears were matched up against.
Former Mercer guard, Kevin Caneveri, remembered that moment. But that season, former head coach Bob Hoffman had a feeling about who they'd be facing in the playoffs.
"It's funny because I'm pretty sure Coach Hoffman called it," Caneveri said. "He just had an itch. He said, 'I think we're gonna get Duke.'"
Hoffman was right. Duke, one of college basketball's most decorated programs led by the legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski, and those outside of Mercer's camp thought a first-round loss was on the way.
"Biggest thing I remember was the week leading up how great those practices were," TJ Hallice said.
Hallice now lives in Kansas working in Sales & Marketing.
"It was one of the toughest weeks because we practiced so hard, but it was valuable time getting better and grinding with your brothers," Hallice said.
Both Mercer and Duke entered the tourney with 26 wins; however, Duke was a third seed and Mercer was seeded 14. Plus the game was played in the Blue Devils' backyard in Raleigh, North Carolina. The odds were not in favor of the orange and black.
"Everybody was all nervous because we're on this huge stage and we're playing one of the greatest programs in basketball," Daniel Coursey said.
Coursey is now an ICU Physician’s assistant in metro Atlanta.
"But I think we got all that out the first few minutes of the game," Coursey said.
But the experience was on Mercer's side.
Coursey's teammate, Darious Moten, agrees.
"I would definitely say the by the second half it went from 'Oh, I think we can win this, to why can't we win this — we're better than them,'" Moten said.
This Mercer team had already scored regular season wins over bigger programs like Florida State, Georgia Tech and Ole Miss so this game albeit in the NCAA tournament wasn't new territory. The Bears were ready to go.
Mercer dominated the contest led by sixth-year senior Jakob Gallon who poured in 20 points and an additional 17 points from fellow senior Daniel Coursey.
After forty minutes on the floor, the Bears upset Duke 78-71 to earn their first tournament win in school history. Then senior guard Kevin Canevari stole the post-game show with his "Na Na" dance — in the "big dance".
"It basically was an extension of our locker room," Hallice said. "It just showed how much we cared, celebrating as a brotherhood and with our family."
Langston Hall, who now plays professional basketball in Greece, says the experience of coming together as one to secure the big win made it all the more meaningful.
"I think it special because everyone was unselfish," Langston said. "We were all just happy just doing this together."
Senior guard Anthony White Jr — who is now an assistant coach for Charleston Southern's men’s basketball team — echoes Hallices' sentiments.
"They are my brothers. Mercer has done so much for me academically and playing D1 ball and putting me in a group with these dudes is special," White said.
Little did the team know a couple of years later that win would be overshadowed for the rest of their lives. The victory and the loss of one teammate nearly two years later strengthened their bond.
Then-senior Jibri Bryan was shot and killed near Mercer's campus in February 2016.
It's hard not to think of the loss when they remember the win.
Every year the crew is reminded of their one shining moment on social media or during a March Madness broadcast. It's actually not something the teammates discuss much.
"In our group chat we don't really talk about our wins or our Duke win," Thomas said. "It's more of the brotherhood and the love we have for each other. It's a special group for sure."
It's a special bond that is sure to offer special memories for many years to come.
"The wins are great but it's the guys that I remember the most and what I'll share with my kids," Hallice said.