Colin Senior Scores 19 in Men's Basketball Defeat to Caldwell, 81-70
CALDWELL, N.J. (Nov. 16, 2011) – The Mercy College men's basketball team traveled to Caldwell, N.J. on Wednesday night to take on Caldwell College in non-conference action looking for its first victory of the 2011-12 campaign. Despite junior guard Colin Senior (Hackensack, N.J.) pouring in 19 points, the Mavericks fell short against the Cougars, 81-70.
Mercy started this contest with more confidence and poise than its two opening games this season; immediately sophomore guard Chaz Morrish (Douglaston, N.Y.) drained a three-pointer to get the action started. The score was tight throughout the entire opening stanza. With 1:09 left before halftime, and the Cougars ahead 40-33 and looking to do more damage to close out the first half, Senior put the Mavericks right back into it by hitting a three-ball. Mercy went into the intermission behind 40-36.
Following halftime, Mercy senior center James Mindingall (Randolph, N.J.) recorded back-to-back lay-ups to knot the score at 40-all (18:04 remaining).
From 15:52 to 8:26 the Mavericks held the advantage over the entire seven-minute period. The Cougars grabbed the lead back and started to pull away going 11-for-11 down the stretch. The hosts closed out the 81-70 triumph after Morrish converted on a pair of free throws.
For Mercy, Senior finished with a team-high 19 points and seven rebounds. Morrish scored 10 points, while junior forward LeBrandon Smith (Jamaica, N.Y.) netted 10 off the bench. The Mavericks shot a stellar 53.8% from behind the arc tonight. Senior and Morrish went a combined 7-for-12 from downtown.
For Caldwell, senior guard Nikola Otovic (Kraljevo, Serbia) scored a game-best 20 points, while senior guard Anthony Gill (New Rochelle, N.Y.) had 14 off the bench. Senior guards Don Trifari (Towaco, N.J.) and Peter Diffley (Bellerose, N.Y.) each had six boards for the club-high. Moreover, the Cougars went 24-for-29 from the charity stripe (82.8%).
Head Coach Adam Parmenter and the Mavericks return to the court on Saturday as they host LeMoyne College in their home opener. The opening tipoff is slated for 3:00 p.m.
