BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Jan. 9, 2019) – Despite a career-high 28 points and 17 rebounds from redshirt sophomore Bryan Griffin (Pomona, N.Y./Saint Joseph Regional), the Mercy College men's basketball team dropped a 107-81 decision to ECC foe University of Bridgeport on Wednesday night at Hubbell Gym.
The Mavericks (4-9, 2-3 ECC) have dropped four games in a row, while the Purple Knights (7-8, 2-3 ECC) win their second straight game.
Griffin went 12-of-19 from the floor and added five blocks. Senior Daquon Ervin (Brooklyn, N.Y./UMBC) had 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting and seniors Sal Barbetto (New City, N.Y./Rockland CC) and Amir Atkins (Alexandria, Va./Hagerstown CC) and freshman Dondre Barnes (Atlanta, Ga./South Atlanta) added eight points apiece.
Bridgeport was led by Bakary Camara and Jayden Iturmendi who had a team-high 13 points each.
Mercy took a 5-4 lead at the 17:14 mark on an Ervin three-pointer and held a 7-5 edge with 16:33 on the clock following an Ervin layup. The Purple Knights responded with a 35-10 run over the next nine minutes to take a 40-17 lead with 7:34 remaining in the half.
The Mavericks cut the deficit to 18 during the half, but a three-pointer from Floyd Preito with six seconds left in the period gave Bridgeport a 55-32 lead at halftime.
The Purple Knights opened the second half by increasing their lead to 25, 66-41, with 15:58 remaining. Mercy continued to battle and came back on a 13-2 run to make it a 14-point game, 68-54, with 13 minutes left.
Mercy trailed 78-63 with 8:29 on the clock following a Griffin layup. That would be the closest the Mavericks could get the rest of the way as Bridgeport pulled away in the last eight minutes to secure the win.
Mercy shot 38.6 percent (27-of-70) from the floor, 20.0 percent (4-of-20) from downtown and 65.7 percent (23-of-35) from the foul line. Bridgeport shot 46.4 percent (39-of-84) from the field, 37.8 percent (14-of-37) from downtown and 78.9 percent (15-of-19) from the charity stripe. Bridgeport held a 53-43 edge on the glass and a 21-10 edge in points off turnovers.
Head Coach Michael Maczko and the Mavericks resume action on Friday, January 18th when they host Daemen at 7 p.m.
