WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 8, 2018) – Powered by a game-high 21 points and 14 rebounds from redshirt sophomore Bryan Griffin (Pomona, N.Y./Saint Joseph Regional), the Mercy College men's basketball team earned a 69-58 victory over ECC foe the University of the District of Columbia on Saturday afternoon.
The Mavericks (3-5, 1-1 ECC) have won two of their last three games, while the Firebirds (5-4, 0-2 ECC) remain winless in ECC play.
Griffin went 7-of-15 from the floor and 7-of-9 from the foul line with two blocks. Graduate student Tawayne Anderson Jr. (Freeport, N.Y./Merrimack College) recorded 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting with eight rebounds and senior Sal Barbetto (New City, N.Y./Rockland CC) poured in 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting.
UDC was led by Zachary Olukanni who had a team-high 17 points.
The Firebirds jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the opening half and held a 16-10 edge with 12:21 remaining in the frame. Mercy responded with five straight points to get within one, 16-15, after a Griffin dunk at the 9:40 mark.
UDC built the lead back up to six, 23-17, with 7:58 left in the opening half before the Mavericks rallied to tie the game up at 24-24 following an Anderson layup at the 5:45 mark. The Firebirds ended the half on an 11-5 run to head into halftime up, 35-29.
Mercy opened the second half on a 9-4 run to cut the deficit to one, 39-38, before the Firebirds put the lead back to five, 43-38, with 15 minutes remaining. The Mavericks defense would step up and hold UDC scoreless for just over ten minutes as Mercy went on a 20-0 run to take a 15-point lead, 58-43, with 4:33 left in the contest.
The Firebirds cut the deficit to ten on three different occasions but could not get any closer as the Mavericks emerged with the road victory.
Mercy shot 46.4 percent (26-of-56) from the floor, 26.7 percent (4-of-15) from beyond the arc and 61.9 percent (13-of-21) from the foul line. UDC shot 40.3 percent (25-of-62) from the field, 4.8 percent (1-of-21) from downtown and 43.8 percent (7-of-16) from the charity stripe. Mercy held a 43-40 edge on the boards.
Head Coach Michael Maczko and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, December 12th when they host Queens at 7 p.m.
