DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Jan. 26, 2019) – Powered by a career-high 31 points and 19 rebounds from redshirt sophomore Bryan Griffin (Pomona, N.Y./Saint Joseph Regional), the Mercy College men's basketball team earned their second straight win with an, 87-65, victory over ECC foe LIU Post on Saturday afternoon at the Victory Hall Sports Center.

The Mavericks (6-11, 4-5 ECC) have won two games in a row and sit in a tie for the sixth and final spot in the ECC Tournament, while the Pioneers (0-16, 0-9 ECC) remain winless on the year.

Griffin went 13-of-23 from the floor with four assists and four blocks. Senior Amir Atkins (Alexandria, Va./Hagerstown CC) had a career-high 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting and senior Sal Barbetto (New City, N.Y./Rockland CC) finished with 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Freshman Korey Lee (Huntington Station, N.Y./Trinity Pawling) netted ten points and five rebounds and sophomore Matthew Alectus (Hollywood, Fla./Hallandale) poured in seven points with six rebounds.

LIU Post was led by Alonzo Ortiz-Traylor who had a team-high 28 points and nine rebounds.

The Pioneers jumped out to a 13-6 lead with 14:29 left in the opening half after an Ortiz-Traylor layup. LIU Post held a 17-11 advantage at the 10:25 mark before the Mavericks answered with a 14-5 run, capped off by a Griffin dunk, that gave Mercy a 25-22 lead with 7:22 remaining in the half.

The visitors tied the score up at 25-25, but the Mavericks had an answer and went on a 14-2 run to take their largest lead of the half, 39-27, with 2:30 remaining. Mercy held a 41-30 lead, but the Pioneers ended the half on a 5-0 run to head into halftime down, 41-35.

LIU Post opened the second half by cutting the deficit to three, 45-42, with 14:08 left to play. Mercy quickly answered back with an 11-0 run, finished off by an Atkins three, that put the Mavericks up 14, 56-42, with 11:58 on the clock.

The Pioneers made it a ten-point game, 68-58, at the 6:36 mark. However, Mercy put together a 17-3 run to take their largest lead of the game, 85-61, with 52 seconds on the clock and held on for the win.

Mercy shot 43.1 percent (28-of-65) from the floor, 48.0 percent (12-of-25) from downtown and 76.0 percent (19-of-25) from the foul line. LIU Post shot 37.9 percent (25-of-66) from the field, 27.3 percent (6-of-22) from beyond the arc and 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from the charity stripe. Mercy held a 48-37 edge on the glass and a 19-9 advantage in points off turnovers.

Head Coach Michael Maczko and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, January 30th when they play at St. Thomas Aquinas at 7:30 p.m.