Lyles Posts Game-High-Tying 13 Points as Men's Basketball Hosts Nyack
Box Score DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 18, 2015) – Despite a game-high-tying 13 points from senior Tyseem Lyles (Brooklyn, N.Y./Tompkins Cortland CC), the Mercy College men's basketball team dropped a 58-50 decision to Nyack College in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday night at Mercy Gymnasium.
The Mavericks (1-1) fail to start 2-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first in school history, while the Warriors (1-2) earn their first win of the season.
Lyles added a team-high eight rebounds, while senior Lazaro Martinez (Harlem, N.Y./Mohawk Valley CC) ended the night with nine points on 3-of-6 shooting. Junior William Robinson (Mount Vernon, N.Y./Nyack College) and senior Jeremiah Brown (Queens Bridge, N.Y./Hostos CC) chipped in six points and junior Raphael Jennings (Washington, D.C./ASA College) netted five points.
Nyack was led by Imran Ritchie and Jaron Smith who each scored a game-high-tying 13 points.
In a contest that featured 44 turnovers and had both teams shoot under 40 percent on the night, the Mavericks would get off to an early 7-4 lead at the 11:08 mark following a Jennings layup. The Warriors responded with an 11-2 run over the next six minutes to build a 15-9 advantage, forcing a Mercy timeout.
Out of the timeout, a Gerald McClease (New Haven, Conn./Sullivan CC) layup and Lyles trifecta cut the deficit to one, 15-14, with 4:36 left in the first. The visitors closed out the period on a 9-6 run to head into halftime up 24-20.
Neither team shot the ball well in the opening stanza but Nyack was able to build their lead outshooting Mercy 34.5 percent to 29.6 percent.
Brown opened up the second half with a layup to get the Mavericks within two, 24-22, but Nyack came right back with four unanswered to increase the lead to six, 28-22, with 16:02 remaining.
A Lyles triple at the 15:32 mark sparked a 21-7 run over the ensuring five minutes to give Mercy back the lead at 43-35, their largest of the night, with ten minutes left in the second half.
Back-to-back free throws from Dante Agnew cut the Nyack deficit to 47-43 with 5:47 showing on the clock. However, Jennings on the very next possession came down and nailed a three-pointer to increase the lead back to seven, 50-43.
Mercy looked to have the contest under control with a seven-point lead with just over five minutes left, but the Warriors would close the game on a 15-0 run as the Mavericks could not score in the final five minutes of action.
Both teams upped their shooting percentages in the second half with Nyack ending the night outshooting the Mavericks 37.5 percent to 32.7 percent. Mercy maintained a 43-36 edge on the glass, but committed 25 turnovers compared to 19 for the guests. The turnover differential led to a 20-12 advantage in points off turnovers for the Warriors.
Head Coach Dr. Jody King and the Mavericks will look to bounce back as they host Wilmington University on Saturday, November 21st at 3 p.m.
