NYACK, N.Y. (Jan. 31, 2018) - Powered by a team high 23 points from junior Sal Barbetto (New City, N.Y. / Rockland CC), the Mercy College men's basketball team overcame a 13-point second-half deficit to defeat New York Institute of Technology, 81-77, in double overtime in an East Coast Conference matchup on Wednesday night at Bowman Gymnasium.

The Mavericks (9-13, 5-7 ECC) snap their five-game losing streak with the victory and sweep the season series with NYIT. The Bears (3-20, 1-10 ECC) have dropped their last eight contests. Mercy moves a game and a half in front of Molloy and Queens for the sixth and final ECC Tournament spot.

The Mavericks were led by Barbetto, who also recorded nine rebounds, one assist and one steal. Freshman Matthew Alectus (Hollywood, Fla / Hallandale) finished with a career high 17 points and nine rebounds. Senior Brendon Smith recorded a double-double for the Mavericks, finishing with 13 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks. Junior Daquon Ervin (Brooklyn, N.Y. / UMBC) recorded nine points, five rebounds, four assists and one steal.

Jeffrey Hayden led the Bears with a game high 28 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and one steal. Laurynas Stonkus added 17 points, three blocks and one rebound. Opong Bramble contributed 12 points, eight rebounds and one steal.

The first half was a back and forth game, with the score being tied for a total of 3 minutes and fourteen seconds. The Bears were able to get on the board first with Stonkus hitting a successful jump shot in the first minute of action. The game remained a back and forth battle, with the score being tied on four occasions in the first ten minutes of play. The Bears were able to score four unanswered points to gain a 20-16 lead at the 8:59 mark. However a jump shot from Ervin and a successful three point shot at the shot clock buzzer from Alectus at the 4:53 mark would put the Mavericks up 21-20. Eight unanswered points from the Bears would give them a 30-23 lead with 2:36 to go. The Mavericks continued to fight for the remainder of the half, entering halftime trailing 37-27 to the Bears. 

The Bears got out to a quick start in the second half, scoring three points before the Mavericks were able to get in their momentum. Redshirt freshman Bryan Griffin (Pomona N.Y. / Saint Joseph Regional) then scored five points in a row for the Mavericks, bringing them to a 40-32 deficit.  The game remained back and forth until Alectus sunk another three pointer with 13:24 on the clock. Shortly after freshman Shannon Denny (Queens, N.Y. /The Pomfret School) had a successful layup to bring the Mavericks within six points, trailing 49-43. Possession of the ball was back and forth until Smith was able to tie the game at 51-51 with a successful layup off of a rebound. The Bears then responded with eight unanswered points to bring the score to 59-51 with 7:12 on the clock. The Mavericks continued to fight hard until the end, but it was a Barbetto three pointer with 43 seconds on the clock that tied the game at 65-65, forcing the first overtime.

NYIT came out ready to play in the first overtime, scoring five points in under two minutes to give them a 70-65 lead. However, five successful free throws from the Mavericks would tie the game back at 70-70, forcing a second overtime.

Barbetto wasted no time scoring in the second overtime, recording a layup within the first minute of action to give the Mavericks the 72-70 lead. A pair of free throws from Hayden tied the game back at 72 with 3:56 to go. The Mavericks were then able to score four unanswered points to give them the 76-72 lead with 2:03 left to play. Despite the Bears still scoring five points on the Mavericks, it was not enough to overcome a strong Mavericks offense. The Mavericks eventually earned the 81-77 double overtime victory over the Bears.

Mercy shot 34.6 percent (27-of-78) from the floor, 26.9 percent (7-of-26) from downtown and 76.9 percent (20-of-26) from the foul line. NYIT shot 37.5 percent (30-of-80) from the field, 33.3 percent (7-of-21) from long distance and 76.9 percent (10-of-13) from the charity stripe.

Head Coach Michael Maczko and the Mavericks look to make it two wins in a row when they travel to LIU Post for an ECC matchup on Saturday, February 3rd at 3:30 p.m. in Brookville, N.Y.