DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Feb. 17, 2021) – Despite a game-high 24 points and nine rebounds from freshman Kerwin Prince (Waterbury, Conn./Notre Dame West Haven Prep), the Mercy College men's basketball team dropped a 99-67 decision to ECC foe No. 10/16 St. Thomas Aquinas College on Wednesday night at Victory Hall Sports Center.

The Mavericks (1-4, 1-4 ECC) fail to build off their win over Molloy on Sunday, while the Spartans (7-0, 6-0 ECC) remain unbeaten on the season.

Prince went 9-for-12 from the floor and had two assists. Junior Elijah Mitchell (Edison, N.J./Monroe College) had a season-high 12 points with three assists and junior James Taylor Jr. (South Chesterfield, Va./Neosho County CC) had 11 points and five rebounds.

St. Thomas Aquinas was led by Luis Risquez who had a team-high 18 points.

Mercy took an early 2-1 lead following a Prince layup at the 17:56 mark before the Spartans rallied an took a 9-4 lead following a Louis Griffith three. Another Prince layup made it 9-6 with 15:08 left in the first half before the Spartans went on a 14-2 run to take a 23-8 lead with 11:32 on the clock.

Prince made it 23-10 with another layup, but the visitors answered back on a 28-10 to increase the lead to 51-20 with 1:13 left before halftime. The Spartans headed into halftime with a 55-24 lead.

St. Thomas Aquinas opened the second half on a 6-1 run to increase their lead to a game-high 36 points, 61-25, with 17:11 remaining. The visitors would lead by double digits for the remainder of the game to secure the victory.

Mercy shot 41.7 percent (20-for-48) from the floor, 26.7 percent (4-for-15) from downtown and 65.7 percent (23-for-35) from the foul line. St. Thomas Aquinas shot 57.3 percent (43-for-75) from the field, 42.1 percent (8-for-19) from beyond the arc and 62.5 percent (5-for-8) from the charity stripe. The Spartans held a 41-25 edge on the glass.

Head Coach Michael Maczko and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, February 20th when they play at Daemen at 3 p.m.