BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Dec. 19, 2021) – Despite a career-high 23 points from junior Brandon Wilson (Farmingdale, N.J./Covenant College Prep), the Mercy College men's basketball team dropped a 96-81 decision to ECC foe University of Bridgeport on Sunday afternoon at Hubbell Gymnasium.

The Mavericks (0-10, 0-3 ECC) remain winless on the year and score a season-high 81 points, while the Purple Knights (4-8, 2-2 ECC) improve to .500 in ECC play.

Wilson set a new career high in points for the second straight game, going 11-of-18 from the floor. Junior Elijah Mitchell (Edison, N.J./Monroe College) had a career-high 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting and junior James Taylor Jr. (South Chesterfield, Va./Neosho County CC) had 18 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Freshman Jaden Mclellan (Bridgeport, Conn./New York Military Academy) had a career-high six points and sophomore Jay Turner (Waterbury, Conn./Notre Dame West Haven Prep) had five points, eight rebounds and four assists. Junior Garrett Kirkland (Springdale, Md./Bishop McNamara) added five points.

Bridgeport was led by Malcolm Moye who had a game-high 30 points.

Mercy opened the game with an 8-0 lead after a Wilson three. Taylor Jr. later gave Mercy a 10-2 lead with a layup at the 16:18 mark. Bridgeport ensued with a 10-2 run to tie the game at 12-12 with 14:29 left in the opening half.

The Mavericks rallied with a 9-2 run, capped off by a Wilson jumper, to take a 21-14 lead with 11:44 on the clock. Mercy held a five-point lead, 28-23, after a Mitchell layup with 7:13 to play in the opening half. Bridgeport went on a 22-3 run to take their largest lead of the half, 45-31, with 54 seconds to play. Back-to-back baskets from Wilson to close out the half cut the Bridgeport lead to 10, 45-35, at halftime.

Bridgeport opened the second half on an 11-3 run to increase the lead to 18, 56-38, with 17:18 to play. The Purple Knights increased the lead to a game-high 22 points, 68-46, at the 12:24 mark and led by double figures for the remainder of the game to earn the win.

Mercy shot 44.4 percent (32-of-72) from the floor, 27.8 percent (5-of-18) from downtown and 70.6 percent (12-of-17) from the foul line. Bridgeport shot 58.8 percent (40-of-68) from the field, 16.7 percent (4-of-24) from beyond the arc and 63.2 percent (12-of-19) from the charity stripe. Bridgeport held a 40-37 edge on the boards and a 62-46 edge in points in the paint.

Head Coach Michael Maczko and the Mavericks resume action on Thursday, December 30th when they play at Nyack at 6 p.m.