DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Jan. 30, 2020) – The Mercy College men's basketball team resumes action on Saturday, February 1st when they play at ECC foe No. 17/20 St. Thomas Aquinas.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, February 1st 3 p.m.
Records: Mercy (4-14, 2-6 ECC), No. 17/20 St. Thomas Aquinas (17-3, 7-1 ECC)
Location: Sparkill, N.Y.
Last Meeting
St. Thomas Aquinas earned a 71-52 win over Mercy on December 5, 2019.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy is looking to snap a two-game losing streak and is coming off a 107-87 loss to Bridgeport on Saturday. The Mavericks are looking to defeat the Spartans for the first time since February 13, 2013. Mercy is currently fourth in the ECC in free throws made (246) and attempts (368) and is fourth in rebounds per game (38.7). Redshirt junior Bryan Griffin is currently ranked No. 1 nationally in rebounds per game (13.8) and defensive rebounds per game (10.13). The forward is also No. 5 nationally in total rebounds (221) and No. 4 in double-doubles (11). The one-time ECC Player and two-time Defensive Player of the Week is also averaging 18.1 points per game (No. 4 in ECC) and leads the ECC in blocks per game (2.1). Junior Nakeem Hamilton is second on the team with 13.8 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game and leads the team with 2.2 assists per game. The guard is coming off a near triple-double against Bridgeport, finishing with 15 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Hamilton has stepped up his play in ECC action, averaging 14.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game in eight ECC games. Freshman Garrett Kirkland was named ECC Rookie of the Week earlier this week and is third on the team averaging 7.6 points per game on a team-high 1.6 made three-pointers per game.
Scouting the Spartans
St. Thomas Aquinas has won seven of their last eight games and is coming off a 79-77 win at District of Columbia on Saturday. The Spartans are ranked No. 17 nationally in the NABC poll and No. 20 in the D2SIDA Media poll. St. Thomas Aquinas is also ranked No. 3 in the D2SIDA East Region media poll and is third in the ECC with 80.5 points per game. The Spartans are also second in the ECC in field goal percentage (46.9), three-point percentage (37.0), steals (8.3) and third in free throw percentage (74.9). St. Thomas Aquinas also leads the ECC in fewest points per game allowed (71.3), is second in field goal percentage defense (42.9) and first in three-point field goal percentage (31.4). One-time ECC Player of the Week sophomore Demetre Roberts leads the team with 15.9 points and 3.5 assists per game. One-time ECC Player of the Week sophomore Osbel Caraballo is second on the team with 15.7 points per game and is averaging 7.5 rebounds per game. One-time ECC Player of the Week and one-time Defensive Player of the Week senior Sekou Cisse is third on the team with 14.3 points per game and leads the team with 8.7 rebounds per game.
Next Game
Mercy resumes action on Wednesday, February 5th when they play at District of Columbia at 7 p.m.
