The 1980–81 Mercer Bears men's basketball team represented Mercer University during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season.

The Bears, led by head coach Bill Bibb, played their home games at Hawkins Arena on the university's Macon, Georgia, campus and were members of the Trans America Athletic Conference.

They finished the season 18–12, 7–4 in TAAC play to finish third in the regular season standings.

They won the TAAC tournament to earn the conferences automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

5 seed Arkansas in the opening round.