PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (Dec. 11, 2021) – Despite a season-high 17 points from junior Brandon Wilson (Farmingdale, N.J./Covenant College Prep), the Mercy College men's basketball team dropped an 82-59 decision to Chestnut Hill College on Saturday afternoon at Sorgenti Arena.
The Mavericks (0-8) remain winless on the year, while the Griffins (5-4) move over .500 on the year.
Wilson had a team-high 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting with four rebounds. Junior Elijah Mitchell (Edison, N.J./Monroe College) had 15 points, six assists and five rebounds and sophomore Justinas Norkus (Vilnius, Lithuania/Millbrook School) had eight points. Juniors James Taylor Jr. (South Chesterfield, Va./Neosho County CC) and Garrett Kirkland (Springdale, Md./Bishop McNamara) added seven points apiece.
Chestnut Hill was led by Nigel Haughton who had a team-high 16 points.
The Griffins jumped out to a 15-0 lead with 13:26 left in the first half. Mitchell got the Mavericks on the scoreboard at the 12:59 mark before Chestnut Hill scored the next four points to make it 19-2 with 11:32 remaining in the opening half.
The Mavericks scored the next six points, capped off by a Wilson layup, to make it 19-8 with 10:33 to play in the half. The Griffins increased the lead back to 15, 23-8, with under 10 minutes to play. An Amadou Camara (Harlem, N.Y./Monroe College) layup with 7:19 to play in the frame got the Mavericks within 10, 25-15.
A Haughton three gave Chestnut Hill a 16-point lead, 33-17, with 4:54 to play. Mercy battled back and cut the deficit to 12, 36-24, at halftime following a pair of Wilson free throws.
Chestnut Hill increased the lead to 19, 49-30, with 14:31 to play in the game. The Mavericks clawed their way back and went on a 9-2 run, finished off by a Mitchell layup, to get within 12, 51-39, with 11 minutes left. The Griffins built the lead back to 15 before a Taylor Jr. trey once again got Mercy to within 12, 57-45, with 8:44 remaining.
The Griffins ensued with an 11-3 run to take a 20-point lead, 68-48, with 5:20 on the clock. Chestnut Hill increased the lead to a game-high 23 points, 80-57, with 50 seconds to play and came away with the 82-59 win.
Mercy shot 37.7 percent (23-of-61) from the floor, 16.7 percent (3-of-18) from downtown and 76.9 percent (10-of-13) from the foul line. Chestnut Hill shot 50.0 percent (31-of-62) from the field, 31.3 percent (5-of-16) from beyond the arc and 78.9 percent (15-of-19) from the charity stripe. Chestnut Hill held a 45-27 edge on the boards.
Head Coach Michael Maczko and the Mavericks resume action on Friday, December 17th when they host Roberts Wesleyan at 7 p.m.
