Brown Scores Season-High 24 Points as Men's Basketball Hosts District of Columbia
Box Score DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Jan. 24, 2015) – Despite a game-high 24 points from junior Jeremiah Brown (Queens Bridge, N.Y./Hostos CC) and a double-double from junior Gerald McClease (New Haven, Conn./Sullivan CC), the Mercy College men's basketball dropped a 74-71 decision to East Coast Conference foe the University of the District of Columbia in a close game throughout on Saturday afternoon in Mercy Gymnasium.
The Mavericks (6-10, 1-9 ECC) have now dropped five in a row, while the Firebirds (4-14, 4-6 ECC) have now won two of their last three after a five-game losing streak.
Brown finished 6-of-11 from the field and went 9-of-10 from the charity stripe, while adding three boards, two assists and two steals. McClease finished with his fourth double-double of the season and junior Jason Quijada (Monsey, N.Y./Rockland CC) chipped in nine points.
UDC was led by Quasim Jones and Erin Senegal who each put up 17 points in the win.
The contest went back-and-forth most of the way with the largest lead of the game being seven points for the visitors right before halftime. The Firebirds got off to a strong start taking a 12-6 lead with 15:13 left in the first but the Mavericks would stay within striking distance and trailed by two, 28-26, with 2:45 remaining in the frame following a Brown layup.
The guests answered with a 6-1 run to build their largest lead of the game, 34-27, at the 1:28 mark before McClease answered with a layup and Mercy headed into the break down 34-29.
The second half saw UDC maintain a 38-31 edge with 18:51 on the clock before the Mavericks slowly began to chip away going on an 11-2 run that gave them their first lead of the game, 42-40, since the 8:29 mark of the first stanza with 15:33 showing on the clock.
The two teams would continue to trade baskets in a contest that saw eight ties and 10 lead changes. The Firebirds retook the lead and built it up to four, 56-52, with 7:44 left, but Mercy responded with an 8-3 run that helped them reclaim the lead at 60-59 with 5:28 left after freshman Matthew Boyd (Hempstead, N.Y./Half Hallow Hills East) nailed home a pair of free throws.
Senegal came right back with a three to put UDC up 62-60, but Brown who had a season-high in points would not be denied as he came right back with a trifecta of his own to put the Mavericks back on top 63-62 with 4:37 remaining.
The Firebirds ensued with five unanswered to take a 67-63 advantage with 2:51 left to play. Boyd followed with two of his eight points to cut the deficit to two, 67-65. However, UDC responded and upped the lead back to four, 69-65, with two minutes left.
Following three free throws by the visitors that put them up seven, 72-65, the game looked to be over. However, a three by Brown and another UDC free throw brought the score to 73-68 with just over 10 seconds left to play. Brown came down following a Senegal free throw and was fouled while attempting a triple. The guard connected on all three and brought the game to one possession, 73-71, with 11 seconds left.
The Mavericks would foul and send UDC to the line for two shots. The visitors went 1-of-2 from the line keeping it a one possession game, 74-71. Following a Mercy timeout with four seconds on the clock, the Mavericks would get a good look at a game-tying three but it wouldn't fall and the Firebirds escaped with the win.
UDC shot an efficient 46.3 percent (25-of-54) from the field on the day compared to just 40.0 percent (24-of-60) for Mercy. The Firebirds were also able to win the rebounding battle, 39-35, and held a 30-14 edge in bench points.
Head Coach Dr. Jody King and the Mavericks look to bounce back as they travel to Dowling College for a 7 p.m. tipoff on Wednesday, January 28th.
