SPARKILL, N.Y. (Nov. 13, 2022) – Despite three Mavericks scoring in double figures, the Mercy College men's basketball team dropped an 81-60 decision to Alliance University on Sunday afternoon at Aquinas Hall Gym.

The Mavericks (0-2) drop their second straight game to open the season. Alliance (1-1) picks up their first win of the season and have won two straight meetings against Mercy.

Senior James Taylor Jr. (South Chesterfield, Va./Neosho County CC) had a team-high 13 points and senior Garrett Kirkland (Springdale, Md./Bishop McNamara) had 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting. Senior Brandon Wilson (Farmingdale, N.J./Covenant College Prep) added 10 points and junior Jayden Dewaal (Toronto, Ontario/Trinidad State Junior College) had seven points and five rebounds. Graduate student Sean Smith Jr. (Yonkers, N.Y./University of New Haven) chipped in six points.

Alliance was led by Isayas Arias who had a game-high 33 points and 13 rebounds.

Alliance scored the first five points of the game, but the Mavericks battled back to take their largest lead of the game, 17-15, with 11:47 left in the first half after a Taylor Jr. jumper.

Alliance closed the half on a 23-8 run to take a 38-25 lead at halftime.

A three by Taylor Jr. to open the second half cut the Alliance lead to 10, 38-28. Arias answered with a basket to increase the Alliance to 12 and they later held a 48-35 lead with 11:56 remaining. A Kirkland layup at the 11:09 mark cut the Alliance lead to 11, 48-37.

Alliance answered with four straight points to increase the lead to 15, 52-37, with under 10 minutes to play. A Kirkland three with 8:55 left once again cut the deficit to 11, 54-43. However, that would be the closest Mercy could get as Alliance went on a 21-10 run to take their largest lead of the game, 75-53, with two minutes left. Alliance led by double digits the rest of the way enroute to the 81-60 win.

Mercy shot 37.7 percent (20-of-53) from the floor, 42.9 percent (9-of-21) from downtown and 78.6 percent (11-of-14) from the foul line. Alliance shot 54.5 percent (30-of-55) from the field, 42.9 percent (9-of-21) from beyond the arc and 75.0 percent (12-of-16) from the charity stripe. Alliance held a 41-20 edge on the glass.

Interim Head Coach Chris Watts and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, November 16th when they play at Pace at 7 p.m.