PURCHASE, N.Y. (Dec. 30, 2017) – Despite three Mavericks scoring in double figures, the Mercy College men's basketball team suffered an 81-68 setback to Assumption College in their 2017 finale on Saturday afternoon at SUNY Purchase.
The Mavericks (6-6) fail to build off their win last time out against Roberts Wesleyan, while the Greyhounds (3-9) have won two games in a row.
Mercy was led by junior Dequawne Richards (Bronx, N.Y./Hostos CC) who had a team high 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Senior Marko Kozul (Astoria, N.Y./Felician University) netted 13 points and six rebounds on 5-of-10 shooting and junior Chris Myers (Hackensack, N.J./Southeastern CC) contributed 12 points. Junior Sal Barbetto (New City, N.Y./Rockland CC) added nine points, five rebounds and four assists.
Assumption was paced by Matthew Kelly who had a game high 29 points on 10-of-16 shooting.
The action went back-and-forth early on with the teams tied at 12-12 with 14:16 left in the first half. Mercy ensued with a 6-0 run, capped off by a Richards dunk, that put the Mavericks up 18-12 at the 12:18 mark. Assumption responded by tying the game up at 18-18 with just under ten minutes remaining in the frame.
Mercy regained their edge and scored eight straight points to take a 26-18 lead at the 6:50 mark of the first half following a Myers layup. The Mavericks later increased their lead to a game high ten points, 30-20, after a Barbetto layup with 5:39 on the clock. The Greyhounds cut the deficit to three, 35-32, with one minute left, but Mercy closed the half on a 6-0 run to take a 41-32 lead at halftime.
The Mavericks looked to be in good position to earn their second straight win, but Assumption stormed out of the locker rooms on a 13-0 run to take a 45-41 lead with 16:38 left. Richards got Mercy on the board with four straight points to tie the game for the sixth time at 45-45. However, the Greyhounds answered with a 21-7 run to take the lead back and build it to 14, 66-52, with 8:49 on the clock.
Mercy cut the deficit to ten, 66-56, following a pair of Richards free throws but Assumption responded with five straight to take a 15-point lead, 71-56, with 6:20 remaining. The Mavericks continued to battle but could not get closer than 11 points as the Greyhounds emerged victorious after outscoring Mercy 49-27 in the second half. Assumption shot 61.3 percent (19-of-31) in the second half, while holding Mercy to just 30.3 percent (10-of-33) shooting.
Mercy shot 41.5 percent (27-of-65) from the floor, 15.4 percent (2-of-13) from downtown and 85.7 percent (12-of-14) from the foul line. Assumption shot 49.2 percent (30-of-61) from the field, 23.1 percent (6-of-26) from beyond the arc and 83.3 percent (15-of-18) from the charity stripe.
Head Coach Michael Maczko and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, January 3rd when they play at St. Thomas Aquinas College at 7:30 p.m.
