DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 10, 2022) – The Mercy College men's basketball team opens its 2022-23 season on Saturday, November 12th when they face Felician University at 7:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas College. The Mavericks conclude the weekend against Alliance University on Sunday, November 13th at 3 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas College.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, November 12th 7:30 p.m.
Records: Mercy (0-0), Felician (0-0)
Location: Sparkill, N.Y. (St. Thomas Aquinas College)
Date/Time: Sunday, November 13th 3 p.m.
Records: Mercy (0-0), Alliance (0-0)
Location: Sparkill, N.Y. (St. Thomas Aquinas College)
Last Meeting vs. Felician
Felician earned a 98-80 win over Mercy on November 13, 2019.
Last Meeting vs. Alliance
Alliance earned a 74-68 win over Mercy on December 10, 2019.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy was selected eighth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 6-19 overall last season and 6-12 in ECC play. The Mavericks just missed out on qualifying for the ECC Championship and are looking to make the Championship for the first time since 2021. Mercy has not qualified for the ECC Championship without every team making it since 2016. Mercy is looking to win their season opener for the first time since 2017. The Mavericks will be led by Interim Head Coach Watts who returns eight student-athletes from last year's team. Leading the returners is senior James Taylor Jr. who averaged a team-high 13.3 points per game and senior Brandon Wilson who posted 11.2 points per game. Junior Jayden Dewaal netted 9.7 points and a team-high 8.8 rebounds per game last season and senior Garrett Kirkland also returns after averaging 10.1 points per game in 2021-22. Watts will also look to graduate transfer Sean Smith Jr. who had 11 points in the Mavericks exhibition contest against Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday. Freshman Sean Conroy had five points against Fairleigh Dickinson and Braelon Joe will also see action after posting three points and three assists in the exhibition.
Scouting the Golden Falcons
Felician was picked third in the CACC North Division Preseason Poll after going 19-10 last season, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Falcons are led by redshirt senior Jaylen Colon who returns after averaging 15.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game last season. Redshirt junior Anas Amos also returns after posting 11.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in 2021-22. Redshirt senior Etnik Peci gives Felician another scoring option with his 10.3 points per game last season.
Scouting Alliance
Alliance was picked sixth in the CACC North Division Preseason Poll after going 11-14 last season, qualifying for the CACC Championship. Alliance will face St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday before facing Mercy on Sunday. Leading the returners for Alliance is senior Isayas Aris who averaged a team-high 18.7 points per game last season with 10.6 rebounds per game. Graduate student Joel Bailey also returns after recording 14.6 points per game last season. Senior Jayden Dawson will also return to the lineup after posting 11.7 points per game a year ago.
Next Game
The Mavericks next game is on Wednesday, November 16th when they play at Pace at 7 p.m.
