DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Jan. 15, 2022) – Powered by a game-high 19 points and 20 rebounds from sophomore Jayden Dewaal (Toronto, Ontario/Trinidad State Junior College), the Mercy College men's basketball team overcame a 10-point deficit in the second half to earn a 63-50 win over ECC foe University of the District of Columbia on Saturday afternoon at Victory Gymnasium.
The Mavericks (2-12, 2-5 ECC) have won two of their last three games, while the Firebirds (3-15, 2-6 ECC) have lost six straight games.
Dewaal had a season-high 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting with a season-high 20 rebounds. Junior James Taylor Jr. (South Chesterfield, Va./ Neosho County CC) had 17 points and four assists and junior Brandon Wilson (Farmingdale, N.J./Covenant College Prep) had 10 points. Sophomore Jay Turner (Waterbury, Conn./Notre Dame West Haven Prep) and junior Jonathan Lapierre (Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook) each added six points apiece.
UDC was led by Hartnel Haye who had a team-high 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The Firebirds jumped out to an 8-0 lead and later led 10-2 with 15:11 left in the first half. Mercy came back on a 17-9 run, capped off by a Taylor Jr. three, to tie the game at 19-19 with 8:24 on the clock. UDC followed with a 9-4 run to take the lead back at 28-23 with 3:41 remaining in the half. The Firebirds headed into halftime with a 32-27 lead after a Jahmir Williams layup right before halftime.
UDC opened the second half on a 7-2 run to take their largest lead of the game, 39-29, with 17:50 left. Mercy ensued with a 7-0 run, capped off by a Dewaal layup, to cut the deficit to three, 39-36, with 14:59 to play. The Firebirds came back with six straight points to put the lead back to nine, 45-36, at the 12:19 mark.
Mercy stormed back with a 10-0 run, finished off by a Taylor Jr., to take a 46-45 lead with 8:39 to play. Haye answered with a jumper to give UDC a 47-46 lead. The Mavericks defense held the Firebirds in check and Mercy ended the game on a 17-3 run to earn a 63-50 win. The Mavericks outscored UDC 36-18 in the second half and held the Firebirds to just 20 percent shooting in the second half to earn the win.
Mercy shot 37.1 percent (23-of-62) from the floor, 26.7 percent (4-of-15) from downtown and 72.2 percent (13-of-18) from the foul line. UDC shot 33.9 percent (20-of-59) from the field, 13.3 percent (2-of-15) from beyond the arc and 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from the charity stripe. Mercy held a 51-33 edge on the glass.
Head Coach Michael Maczko and the Mavericks resume action on Friday, January 21st when they host D'Youville at 7 p.m.
