DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Jan. 20, 2019) – Despite a game-high 23 points and five blocks from redshirt sophomore Bryan Griffin (Pomona, N.Y./Saint Joseph Regional), the Mercy College men's basketball team suffered a 76-63 setback to ECC foe Roberts Wesleyan College on Sunday afternoon at the Victory Hall Sports Center.

The Mavericks (4-11, 2-5 ECC) have dropped six games in a row, while the Redhawks (7-7, 3-4 ECC) move one game in front of Mercy in the ECC standings.

Griffin went 9-of-18 from the floor and added six rebounds. Freshman Dondre Barnes (Atlanta, Ga./South Atlanta) netted ten points and three rebounds and senior Jefferson Francois (New York, N.Y./Hostos CC) added ten points and five rebounds. Senior Amir Atkins (Alexandria, Va./Hagerstown CC) contributed nine points and four assists and senior Sal Barbetto (New City, N.Y./Rockland CC) had five points and a game-high six assists.

Roberts Wesleyan was led by Justin Vaughan who had a team-high 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

The two teams were tied at 8-8 with 16:32 left in the opening half after a Griffin layup. The Redhawks went on a 6-0 run to take a six-point lead, 14-8, with 13:52 on the clock. Mercy answered back with six straight points of their own to tie the game up at 14-14 after a Griffin three.

After a Roberts Wesleyan timeout, the visitors went on a 24-6 run to take an 18-point lead, 38-20, with 1:35 left in the half. Mercy ended the half on a 6-0 run, finished off by back-to-back baskets from Barnes, that made it 38-26 at halftime.

The Mavericks carried over the momentum over to the second half when they opened the period on a 7-0 run to get within five, 38-33, with 16:18 remaining. However, the Redhawks came right back on a 13-0 run over five minutes to increase the lead back to 18, 51-33, with 11 minutes left.

Roberts Wesleyan later increased the lead to 22, 60-38, with 8:11 on the clock. Mercy closed the gap with a 24-12 run to make it a 10-point game, 72-62, with 54 seconds left. However, the Mavericks could not get any closer allowing the Redhawks to come away with the win.

Mercy shot 38.1 percent (24-of-63) from the floor, 41.2 percent (7-of-17) from downtown and 66.7 percent (8-of-12) from the foul line. Roberts Wesleyan shot 41.7 percent (25-of-60) from the field, 39.1 percent (9-of-23) from beyond the arc and 77.3 percent (17-of-22) from the charity stripe. The Redhawks held a 47-31 edge on the boards.

Head Coach Michael Maczko and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, January 23rd when they play at NYIT at 7:30 p.m.