One of only four basketball players in school history to have his number retired, Tom Sivulich competed for the Flyers from 1976-1980. The team had winning records in all four of his seasons in Dobbs Ferry, winning 57 times against 40 losses.
Playing in the era before the three-point shot, he amassed 1,536 points, the third highest total in school history. But he was much more than just a pure scorer. He remains the school’s all-time leader in assists with 667.
During his four-year career, the Yonkers, N.Y., native earned regional acclaim, garnering ECAC Honor Roll selections more than ten times.
As a freshman, he helped the team win 17 games, a nine game improvement over the previous season. He averaged 18 points per game, and was named to the ECAC Weekly Honor Roll three times, and was the Freshman of the Week three times.
In his sophomore year, he averaged 13.3 points and 9.7 assists per game. At the time, he set the school record with 18 assists in a single game, coming against local rival Dominican in February. That record still stands. More history was made that year, as Mercy upset Stony Brook, the Number One ranked team in the country.
Returning for his junior campaign, he picked up the scoring pace, once again averaging 18 points per game. In addition to attention from the ECAC, he earned local acclaim as well, being selected as a member of the First Team All-Conference in post-season NYCAC awards.
With laurels continuing to come in, Sivulich was primed for his senior season. That year, Mercy would defeat a Division I school for the first time in school history, topping Colgate 77-73. Called upon to be the primary scorer once again, he averaged 20 points per game, and was named All-ECAC First Team for Division II.
So well respected was he that his uniform number 23 was retired in 1980.
Sivulich remains an ardent supporter of Mercy basketball, returning to campus throughout the season to cheer the team on. He currently works for IBM as a Business Unit Leader in Human Resources at IBM, in the Global Offering Management & Development/Marketing Organization. Sivulich resides in Goldens Bridge, N.Y., and has one son.
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