BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Feb. 17, 2018) – Despite a double-double from senior Brendon Smith (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore City CC) and a career-high 17 points from redshirt freshman Bryan Griffin (Pomona, N.Y./Saint Joseph Regional), the Mercy College men's basketball team suffered a 102-73 defeat to ECC foe No. 15/18 University of Bridgeport on Saturday afternoon at Hubbell Gym.

The Mavericks (10-17, 5-11 ECC) fall a game and a half behind Queens for the sixth and final ECC Tournament spot with two games to go, while the Purple Knights (22-4, 15-1 ECC) sit in first place in the ECC standings.

Smith recorded a career-high 17 points and had 12 rebounds, recording his third double-double of the season. The senior has now scored in double figures in three straight games. Griffin went 8-of-12 from the field and added six rebounds. Junior Sal Barbetto (New City, N.Y./Rockland CC)  finished with nine points.

Bridgeport was led by Carlos DeJesus and Sam Joseph who both recorded a team-high 13 points.

The Purple Knights jumped out to a 10-2 lead at the 15:04 mark of the first half and did not look back in securing the victory. A Griffin layup made it 10-6, but Bridgeport would ensue with a 33-12 run to build a 43-18 lead with 4:45 remaining in the opening half.

The Mavericks cut the deficit to 21, 49-28, after a pair of Barbetto free throws, but the hosts would close out the half on a 9-2 run to take a 58-30 lead at halftime.

Bridgeport continued to play well in the second half, increasing their lead to a game-high 36 points, 76-40, with 14:08 remaining. Mercy would cut the deficit to 23 on two occasions but could not get any closer as the Purple Knights held on for the win.

Mercy shot 41.8 percent (28-of-67) from the floor, 21.1 percent (4-of-19) from downtown and 56.5 percent (13-of-23) from the foul line. Bridgeport shot 43.3 percent (39-of-90) from the field, 38.5 percent (15-of-39) from downtown and 60.0 percent (9-of-15) from the charity stripe. The Purple Knights used 23 Mercy turnovers to hold a 31-7 edge in points off turnovers.

Head Coach Michael Maczko and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, February 21st when they host Queens College at 8 p.m. at Nyack College.