MANSFIELD, Pa. (Dec. 1, 2021) – Despite a team-high 18 points from junior Garrett Kirkland (Springdale, Md./Bishop McNamara), the Mercy College men's basketball team dropped a 79-61 decision to Mansfield University on Wednesday night at Decker Gymnasium.
The Mavericks (0-6) have dropped six straight games, while the Mountaineers (1-5) earn their first win of the season.
Kirkland went 6-of-12 from the floor and 4-of-9 from downtown with five rebounds. Junior James Taylor Jr. (South Chesterfield, Va./Neosho County CC) had 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Junior Elijah Mitchell (Edison, N.J./Monroe College) had 10 points and junior Brandon Wilson (Farmingdale, N.J./Covenant College Prep) netted eight points and four rebounds.
Mansfield was led by Justice Smith who had a game-high 19 points.
The hosts scored the first 10 points taking a 10-0 lead with 16:39 left in the opening half. Mercy stormed back on a 9-2 run, capped off by a Taylor Jr. jumper, to get within three, 12-9, with 13:34 on the clock. The Mavericks later cut the deficit to two, 17-15, after a Kirkland three with 11 minutes to play in the first half.
Mansfield followed with a 9-0 run to take a 26-15 lead with 8:31 on the clock. A Kirkland jumper at the 6:55 mark got Mercy to within seven, 26-19, but the Mountaineers answered with a 10-3 run to take their largest lead of the half, 36-22, with 2:44 remaining. Mansfield headed into halftime with a 37-25 lead.
The Mountaineers increased the lead to 22, 57-35, with 11 minutes to play. Mercy continued to battle and went on a 12-4 run, finished off by a Kirkland three, to make it 61-47 with 8:32 left. Mansfield ended any hope of a comeback, following with a 12-2 run to increase the lead to 24, 73-49, with 4:39 left in the game. Mansfield led by double digits for the remainder of the game to earn the win.
Mercy shot 36.4 percent (24-of-66) from the floor, 27.3 percent (6-of-22) from downtown and 50.0 percent (7-of-14) from the foul line. Mansfield shot 45.7 percent (32-of-70) from the field, 10.0 percent (2-of-20) from beyond the arc and 68.4 percent (13-of-19) from the charity stripe. Mansfield held a 50-39 edge on the glass and used 17 Mercy turnovers to hold a 25-8 edge in points off turnovers.
Head Coach Michael Maczko and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, December 8th when they host St. Thomas Aquinas at 7 p.m.
