Anchorage, AK (SportsNetwork.com) - Ike Nwamu scored 21 points and pulled down six rebounds as he helped lift the Mercer Bears to a 77-71 overtime victory against the Rice Owls as part of the Great Alaska Shootout at Alaska Airlines Center.

Also having a strong offensive performances for the Bears (3-2), as they won for the second time in three outings, was Jibri Bryan who accounted for 20 points in 42 minutes of work, followed by T.J. Hallice with 12.

The Owls (1-3) were led by Seth Gearhart with 16 points and both Max Guercy and Marcus Jackson with 13 points apiece in the setback.

Rice led for the majority of the first half, up by seven about five minutes in, but in a period that featured three ties and just as many lead changes, Mercer used 12 points in the paint and nine second-chance points to battle back and claim a 33-28 advantage at the break.

In the second half Mercer's lead reached as high as 15, but with less than 30 seconds left on the clock the Bears found themselves trailing by two, 61-59. Bryan went for the lead on a 3-pointer, but he missed. Luckily, Darious Moten collected the rebound and converted the layup, knotting the score at 61-61 and sending the meeting into overtime.

During the extra session Mercer scored the first points and never looked back, connecting on 12-of-16 at the free-throw line in order to secure the six-point victory.

The Bears held a 31-19 advantage at the charity stripe on the night.

Both teams will be back in action on Friday in the semifinals of the tournament, with Mercer taking on UC Santa Barbara and the Owls clashing with Washington State.