DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Dec. 5, 2019) – Despite a game-high 24 points from junior Nakeem Hamilton (Bronx, N.Y./Hostos CC), the Mercy College men's basketball team opened up ECC play with a 71-52 setback to RV St. Thomas Aquinas College on Thursday night at Victory Hall Sports Center.

The Mavericks (1-7, 0-1 ECC) have dropped two games in a row, while the Spartans (8-1, 1-0 ECC) have won two games in a row.

Hamilton reached a season high in points and had seven rebounds. Redshirt junior Bryan Griffin (Pomona, N.Y./Saint Joseph Regional) recorded a double-double by way of 13 points and a game-high 19 rebounds. Freshman Brandon Wilson (Farmingdale, N.J./Covenant College Prep) netted ten points off the bench.

St. Thomas Aquinas was led by Louis Griffith and Sekou Cisse who both had a team-high 13 points.

The Mavericks jumped out to a 14-8 lead at the 14:32 mark of the first half after a Hamilton layup. The Spartans answered back with a 15-5 run to take a 23-19 lead with 7:40 remaining in the first half. Mercy quickly responded with a 6-0 run, capped off by two Hamilton free throws, to retake the lead at 25-23. St. Thomas Aquinas ensued with a 10-1 run to take their largest lead of the half, 33-26, and headed into halftime with a 33-29 lead.

Mercy opened the second half with three straight points to cut the deficit to one, 33-32, at the 18:19 mark. The Spartans went on a 14-4 to increase the lead to double digits for the first time at 47-36 with 14:19 remaining. A Wilson three-pointer with 8:21 remaining got the Mavericks to within six, 48-42, with 8:21 left to play. St. Thomas Aquinas came back on a 12-3 run to put the lead back to double digits and led by double digits the rest of the way to secure the win.

Mercy shot 34.0 percent (16-of-47) from the floor, 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from downtown and 63.6 percent (14-of-22) from the foul line. St. Thomas Aquinas shot 40.6 percent (28-of-69) from the field, 36.4 percent (8-of-22) from beyond the arc and 63.6 percent (7-of-11) from the charity stripe. The Spartans turned 26 Mercy turnovers into a 22-4 edge in points off turnovers.

Head Coach Michael Maczko and the Mavericks resume action on Tuesday, December 10th when they host Nyack at 7 p.m.