Binary Bears capture second place in Southeast programming competition

Mercer ties for most issues solved, has only crew to address each trouble on first endeavor

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Mercer University’s Binary Bears personal computer programming staff introduced dwelling the 2nd-area trophy from a regional programming opposition held in Greenville, South Carolina, this earlier weekend as a section of the yearly convention of the Consortium of Computing Sciences in Faculties (CCSC). It was the first in-individual coding level of competition for Mercer in additional than two several years owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mercer competed along with Bob Jones University, Francis Marion University, Furman College, Gardner-Webb University, Lander University and Wofford College or university.

The seven establishments ended up represented by 13 teams, every consisting of four pupils who experienced to share one personal computer to fix 9 diverse troubles using their programming language of alternative.

In a thrilling 3-hour level of competition, the direct altered hands a lot of situations. Mercer was the only institution that solved all 9 challenges in the established on its initial attempt using the Python programming language. The Binary Bears tied for most thoughts solved with Bob Jones College. 

To crack the first-location tie, judges made use of penalty factors based mostly on time solved and quantity of makes an attempt. Bob Jones took very first by the slender margin of eight factors (one minute equals one particular penalty place, and an incorrect submission equals 20 penalty factors). Full standings are available right here.

Mercer’s top staff consisted of Gabe Bryant, senior laptop science main from Marietta Isaiah Hoffman, senior personal computer science and math double-main from Culloden Ron Karamuca, senior laptop or computer science key from Acworth and Jacob Strader, junior pc science main from McDonough. “They managed time competently and worked together nicely in resolving the two most hard problems in the last hour,” claimed Dr. Andy Digh, affiliate professor of laptop science and faculty adviser to the Binary Bears.

Mercer’s second staff, which solved 7 of nine troubles correctly, integrated Will Baglivio, senior math big from Marietta Samantha Scholz, senior pc engineering main from Bonaire Adam Steinberg, senior computer system engineering significant from Dahlonega and Emily Wilbourn, senior laptop or computer science main from Jefferson. Dr. Digh praised this workforce for getting off to a “fantastic start” by solving its very first dilemma in only eight minutes.

The Binary Bears will be back in motion in five weeks on March 5 when they host the Southeastern regionals of the Association for Computing Machinery’s Intercontinental Collegiate Programming Contest in Willet Science Center.