HACKENSACK, N.J. (Nov. 9, 2022) – Despite four Mavericks scoring in double figures, the Mercy College men's basketball team dropped a 106-66 decision to Division I Fairleigh Dickinson University in an exhibition on Wednesday night at the Rothman Center.
The game does not count towards Mercy's record but does count towards Fairleigh Dickinson's (1-1).
Senior James Taylor Jr. (South Chesterfield, Va./Neosho County CC) led the Mavericks with 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting and junior Jayden Dewaal (Toronto, Canada/Trinidad State Junior College) had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Brandon Wilson (Farmingdale, N.J./Covenant College Prep) added 11 points and graduate student Sean Smith Jr. (Yonkers, N.Y./University of New Haven) had 11 points.
Fairleigh Dickinson was led by Demetre Roberts who had a game-high 22 points.
The Knights scored the game's first five points and later took an 11-5 lead at the 15:25 mark of the first half. A Garrett Kirkland (Springdale, Md./Bishop McNamara) three with 12:14 left in the opening half cut the hosts lead to 21-19.
Fairleigh Dickinson ensued with an 18-5 run to take their largest lead of the half, 39-24, with 4:28 left before halftime. The Knights headed into halftime with a 52-37 lead.
Mercy continued to battle and opened the second half on an 11-4 run, capped off by a Taylor Jr. layup, to cut the deficit to single digits, 56-48, with 16:40 remaining. The Knights followed with a 13-0 run to take a 21-point lead, 69-48, with 12 minutes left to play.
The Mavericks later got within 16, 71-55, after a Korey Lee (Huntington Station, N.Y./Trinity Pawling) jumper with 10:47 remaining. The hosts would end the game on a 35-11 run to pull away for the win.
Mercy shot 42.6 percent (26-for-61) from the floor, 39.1 percent (9-for-23) from downtown and 38.5 percent (5-for-13) from the foul line. Fairleigh Dickinson shot 55.3 percent (42-for-76) from the floor, 43.5 percent (10-for-23) from beyond the arc and 70.6 percent (12-for-17) from the charity stripe. The Knights held a 48-26 edge on the glass and a 32-10 edge in points off turnovers.
Interim Head Coach Chris Watts and the Mavericks will now open their 2022-23 season on Saturday, November 12th against Felician at 7:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas College.
