WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 28, 2023) – Despite a season-high 30 points from graduate student Sean Smith Jr. (Yonkers, N.Y./University of New Haven), the Mercy College men's basketball team dropped a 113-88 decision to ECC foe University of the District of Columbia on Saturday afternoon at Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson Sports Complex.

The Mavericks (2-16, 1-9 ECC) have dropped 12 games in a row, while the Firebirds (7-12, 5-5 ECC) sweep the season series with Mercy.

Smith Jr. had a game-high 30 points on 10-of-19 shooting overall and 7-of-12 shooting from downtown with a game-high 10 rebounds. Senior James Taylor Jr. (South Chesterfield, Va./Neosho County CC) netted 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting with four assists and senior Garrett Kirkland (Springdale, Md./Bishop McNamara) recorded 13 points. Junior Jayden Dewaal (Toronto, Canada/Trinidad State Junior College) posted eight points and five rebounds and junior Damani Scott (Mansfield, Mass./Quincy College) contributed seven points. Senior Brandon Wilson (Farmingdale, N.J./Covenant College Prep) and freshman Asa Kone (Bronx, N.Y./Eagle Academy for Young Men) both added five points.

UDC was led by Eric Morgan Jr. who had a team-high 19 points.

The score was tied at 6-6 following a Taylor Jr. layup with 16:48 left in the first half. The Firebirds followed with an 18-6 run to take a 24-12 lead with 11:37 remaining in the half. A Smith Jr. three cut the UDC lead to 11, 31-20, with 9:17 on the clock.

The Firebirds answered with a 19-9 run to increase the lead to 21, 50-29, with 3:52 left in the half. Mercy rallied with a 10-4 run to make it 54-39 with 24 seconds left after a Taylor Jr. jumper. A Michael Aiken layup at the buzzer gave the hosts a 56-39 lead at halftime.

Mercy cut the UDC lead to 15, 65-50, after three Smith Jr. free throws with 15:40 remaining. The Firebirds quickly ensued with a 19-8 run to increase the lead to 26, 84-58, with 9:53 left. A pair of Torrence Horton free throws later gave UDC their largest lead of the game, 111-81, with 2:21 to play. The Firebirds led by double figures the rest of the way to secure the win.

Mercy shot 41.3 percent (31-of-75) from the floor, 38.9 percent (14-of-36) from downtown and 75.0 percent (12-of-16) from the foul line. UDC shot 60.3 percent (44-of-73) from the field, 38.1 percent (8-of-21) from beyond the arc and 85.0 percent (17-of-20) from the charity stripe. Rebounds were tied at 38-38. UDC used 16 Mercy turnovers to hold a 23-8 edge in points off turnovers. The Firebirds also held a 38-13 edge in fastbreak points.

Interim Head Coach Chris Watts and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, February 1st when they host Cheyney at 7 p.m.