ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Jan. 18, 2023) – Despite a team-high 19 points from graduate student Sean Smith Jr. (Yonkers, N.Y./University of New Haven), the Mercy College men's basketball team dropped a 97-85 decision to ECC foe Molloy University on Wednesday night at Quealy Gymnasium.

The Mavericks (2-13, 1-6 ECC) have dropped nine games in a row, while the Lions (7-12, 6-2 ECC) snap a three-game losing streak to Mercy.

Smith Jr. added three steals and senior James Taylor Jr. (South Chesterfield, Va./Neosho County CC) had 13 points, three assists and three steals. Senior Brandon Wilson (Farmingdale, N.J./Covenant College Prep) netted nine points, four rebounds and three assists and junior Damani Scott (Mansfield, Mass./Quincy College) added nine points. Junior Jayden Dewaal (Toronto, Canada/Trinidad State Junior College) contributed eight points and a team-high 10 rebounds and senior Garrett Kirkland (Springdale, Md./Bishop McNamara) recorded seven points. Graduate student Korey Lee (Huntington Station, N.Y./Trinity Pawling) produced six points and junior Braelon Joe (Houston, Texas/Monroe College) had five points and a team-high four assists.

Molloy was led by Darren Fergus who had a game-high 38 points.

Molloy scored the game's first six points before Mercy rallied with a 16-5 run, capped off by a Smith Jr. three, to take a 16-11 lead with 10:16 left in the first half. The Lions answered back with a 10-4 run to take the lead back at 21-20 at the 7:41 mark.

The Lions later held a 25-24 lead with 6:41 remaining in the half before the Mavericks ensued with a 16-5 run, finished off by two Taylor Jr. free throws, to take their largest lead of the game, 40-30, with one minute left. Molloy scored the final four points of the half to head into halftime down, 40-34.

A Taylor Jr. three at the 18:50 mark of the second half gave Mercy a 45-36 lead. A Fergus three later cut the Mavericks lead to five before an Asa Kone (Bronx, N.Y./Eagle Academy for Young Men) dunk put Mercy back up seven, 49-42, with 17 minutes left. Molloy came back on an 18-3 run to take a 60-52 lead with 13:30 left to play. A Scott jumper and a pair of Smith Jr. free throws cut the deficit to four, 60-56.

The Lions would battle back with a 17-3 run to increase their lead to 18, 77-59, with 8:29 left. Molloy built the lead to a game-high 20 points, 91-71, with 3:34 on the clock after a Fergus layup. Mercy ended the game on a 14-6 run, but the deficit proved too much to overcome, and Molloy came away with the win.

Mercy shot 33.8 percent (27-of-80) from the floor, 45.5 percent (10-of-22) from downtown and 80.8 percent (21-of-26) from the foul line. Molloy shot 48.4 percent (31-of-64) from the field, 38.1 percent (8-of-21) from beyond the arc and 81.8 percent (27-of-33) from the charity stripe. Molloy held a 45-44 edge on the glass and Mercy used 20 Molloy turnovers to hold a 31-10 edge in points off turnovers.

Interim Head Coach Chris Watts and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, January 21st when they host Queens at 2 p.m.