Hickey Scores Game-High 24 Points as Men's Basketball Battles Daemen
Box Score AMHERST, N.Y. (Jan. 2, 2017) – Despite a game-high 24 points from graduate student Ryan Hickey (Smithtown, N.Y./Dowling College), the Mercy College men's basketball team dropped a 76-64 decision to Daemen College in an ECC matchup on Monday night at Lumsden Gymnasium.
The Mavericks (2-11, 0-5 ECC) have dropped three games in a row, while the Wildcats (8-5, 2-3 ECC) have won three of their last four games.
Hickey reached a game high in points on 10-of-17 shooting from the floor and had five rebounds, while senior Raphael Jennings (Washington, D.C./ASA College) poured in 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Senior William Robinson (Mount Vernon, N.Y./Nyack College) recorded eight points, five rebounds and four assists. Robinson scored his 1,000th career point with a jumper at the 14:54 mark of the first half, reaching the milestone between his time at Nyack College and with the Mavericks.
Daemen was led by Arif Mehmetaj who had a team-high 19 points and seven rebounds, while Supreme Hannah and Aleks Miljenovic both pitched in ten points.
Mercy entered the contest having never beaten Daemen in seven previous meetings and the hosts opened up the contest with a 25-13 lead at the 11:30 mark of the first half. The Wildcats would build the lead up to 14, 34-20, with six minutes left before halftime.
The Mavericks slowly clawed their way back into the game and closed the half with five straight points on a Hickey three and a Jefferson Francois (New York, N.Y./Hostos CC) layup to make it 39-32 in favor of the Wildcats at halftime.
After ending the first half with momentum, Mercy carried the edge into the second half as they began the frame with a 13-4 run to take a 45-43 lead with 13:34 remaining after a Hickey layup. Hickey gave the Mavericks a three-point lead with a trifecta at the 12:47 mark but Daemen followed with a 13-1 run to take back the lead at 58-49 with 6:38 left on the clock.
The Wildcats increased the lead to a game-high 15 points, 71-56, with 2:26 remaining. Mercy cut the deficit to 10, 71-61, at the 1:20 mark, but time would run out on the Mavericks as Daemen held on for the victory.
Mercy shot 44.3 percent (27-of-61) from the floor, 40.0 percent (6-of-15) from downtown and 28.6 percent (4-of-14) from the foul line. Daemen shot 49.1 percent (27-of-55) from the floor, 44.4 percent (8-of-18) from beyond the arc and 63.6 percent (14-of-22) from the charity stripe. The Mavericks held a 36-33 edge on the boards.
Head Coach Dr. Jody King and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, January 4th when they play at Roberts Wesleyan College at 8 p.m.
