DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 15, 2022) – The Mercy College men's basketball team plays at #23 Pace University on Wednesday, November 16th at 7 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Wednesday, November 16th 7 p.m.
Records: Mercy (0-2), #23 Pace (2-0)
Location: Pleasantville, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Pace
Pace earned an 87-57 win over Mercy on November 28, 2021.
Scouting the Mavericks
The Mavericks are coming off an 81-60 loss to Alliance on Sunday. Mercy was led by senior James Taylor Jr. who had a team-high 13 points and by senior Garrett Kirkland who had 11 points. Leading the Mavericks so far this season is junior Jayden Dewaal who is averaging a team-high 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Taylor Jr. also averages double figures with 10.0 points per game and junior Braelon Joe posts 10.0 points per game. Senior Brandon Wilson nets 9.0 points per game and graduate student Sean Smith Jr. is averaging 7.0 points per game. The Mavericks look to defeat Pace for the first time since 1997. 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. The Mavericks will be led by Interim Head Coach Watts who returns eight student-athletes from last year's team. Leading the returners is Taylor Jr. who averaged a team-high 13.3 points per game and Wilson who posted 11.2 points per game. Dewaal netted 9.7 points and a team-high 8.8 rebounds per game last season and Kirkland also returns after averaging 10.1 points per game in 2021-22. Watts will also look to graduate transfer 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 Joe will also see action after posting three points and three assists in the exhibition.
Scouting the Setters
Pace opened their 2022-23 season with back-to-back wins over Molloy and Queens at Queens on Friday and Saturday. The Setters were picked second in the NE10 Preseason Poll after going 20-10 last season. Pace advanced to the NE10 Semifinals last season and to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. Pace is currently ranked No. 23 nationally in the D2SIDA Top 25 Poll. The Setters are currently ranked second in the D2SIDA East Region Poll. Pace has been led by Brandon Powell who averages a team-high 16.0 points per game. Bryan Powell is second on the team with 13.0 points per game and Lyron Bennett is third on the team with 11.0 points per game. Bennett also averages a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game.
Next Game
The Mavericks next game is on Tuesday, November 22nd when they host Bridgeport at 7 p.m.
