DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 21, 2022) – The Mercy College men's basketball team hosts University of Bridgeport on Tuesday, November 22nd at 7 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Tuesday, November 22nd 7 p.m.
Records: Mercy (0-3), Bridgeport (3-0)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Bridgeport
Bridgeport earned an 85-79 win over Mercy on January 30, 2022.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy is coming off a 74-65 loss to No. 23 Pace on Wednesday. The Mavericks were led by graduate student Sean Smith Jr. who had a team-high 15 points and by senior James Taylor Jr. who had 12 points. Senior Brandon Wilson chipped in 11 points. Mercy looks to defeat Bridgeport for the first time since 2013. The Mavericks are 2-32 in their last 34 meetings against the Purple Knights and have lost 15 straight meetings. Mercy looks to win their home opener for the first time since 2017. Leading the Mavericks so far this season is Taylor Jr. who averages a team-high 10.7 points per game with 2.0 assists per game. Junior Jayden Dewaal is second on the team averaging 10.3 points and posts team-high 7.0 rebounds per game. Junior Braelon Joe posts 9.3 points per game and Wilson nets 9.7 points per game Smith Jr. is averaging 9.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. 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 Chris 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 senior Garrett 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 Purple Knights
Bridgeport has opened their 2022-23 season with wins over Southern N.H., Southern Connecticut State and American International. The Purple Knights were picked seventh in the CACC North Preseason Poll after going 11-16 last season. Bridgeport is currently ranked sixth in the D2SIDA East Region Poll released on Monday. The Purple Knights are led by Matt Turner who averages a team-high 16.7 points per game on 58.6 percent shooting with 5.3 rebounds per game. Mason Williams posts 14.3 points per game on 66.7 percent shooting and Malcolm Moye is netting 12.0 points per game and a team-high-tying 6.3 rebounds per game. D'Andre Collins also averages a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game and posts 9.0 points per game.
Next Game
The Mavericks next game is on Sunday, November 27th when they play at Caldwell at 1 p.m.
