DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Jan. 6, 2023) – Despite a season-high 23 points from graduate student Sean Smith Jr. (Yonkers, N.Y./University of New Haven), the Mercy College men's basketball team dropped a hard-fought 91-88 overtime decision to ECC foe Roberts Wesleyan University on Friday night at the Neil Judge Student Athlete Center.

The Mavericks (2-11, 1-4 ECC) have dropped seven games in a row and fall to the Redhawks (5-7, 3-1 ECC) for the fourth straight time.

Smith Jr. had a season-high 23 points on 11-of-19 shooting with six rebounds and two steals. Junior Jayden Dewaal (Toronto, Canada/Trinidad State Junior College) had 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting with a game-high 13 rebounds and five blocks. Senior James Taylor Jr. (South Chesterfield, Va./Neosho County CC) recorded 11 points and six rebounds and senior Garrett Kirkland (Springdale, Md./Bishop McNamara) had 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from downtown. Freshman Sean Conroy (Staten Island, N.Y./Trinity-Pawling) contributed eight points and junior Braelon Joe (Houston, Texas/Monroe College) produced seven points and a game-high seven assists.

Roberts Wesleyan was led by Ja'Kair Sanchez who had a game-high 26 points.

The game saw 11 lead changes and 16 ties throughout the 45 minutes of action. A Kirkland three at the 13:35 mark of the first half tied the game at 14-14. The Redhawks stormed back on a 10-2 run to take a 24-16 lead with 11:21 left in the first half.

Mercy answered with a 15-4 run, capped off by a Smith Jr. three, to take a 31-28 lead with 5:28 remaining in the half. Roberts Wesleyan would tie the game at 37-37 before a Conroy three gave the Mavericks a 40-37 advantage with 1:56 on the clock. A Demani Smith layup cut Mercy's lead to 40-39 at halftime.

The Mavericks opened the second half on a 6-3 spurt, finished off by a Taylor Jr. layup, to take a 46-42 lead with 18:13 left in regulation. After a Redhawks timeout, the visitors went on an 11-4 run to take the lead back at 53-50 with 15:14 on the clock. A Kirkland three at the 13:24 mark capped a 9-2 run that put Mercy in front, 59-55.

Roberts Wesleyan came back on a 13-3 run to take a 68-62 lead with 8:59 left in regulation. The Redhawks later held a 76-73 lead at the 3:53 mark before back-to-back baskets from Smith Jr. and Dewaal put Mercy up, 77-76, with 1:05 left in regulation. Rian Carter went 1-of-2 from the line with 48 seconds left to tie the game at 77-77. Both teams would miss a chance to take the lead and the game headed into overtime.

Two baskets from Smith Jr. and a layup from Dewaal gave Mercy an 83-77 lead with four minutes left in overtime. The Redhawks scored the next seven points to take an 84-83 lead with two minutes remaining. Joe went 2-of-2 from the line to give Mercy an 85-84 lead at the 1:45 mark. A Carter three put the Redhawks up 87-85 before Dewaal made one free throw to make it 87-86 with 57 seconds left. A Nicholas Johnson basket put the Redhawks back up three, 89-86, with 39 seconds on the clock. Smith Jr. brought Mercy back to within one, 89-88, after a layup with 35 seconds left. Johnson secured an offensive rebound of a Sanchez miss and finished the putback to give the guests a 91-88 lead with four seconds left. A three from Conroy would not fall and Roberts Wesleyan came away with the win.

Mercy shot a season-high 50.0 percent (36-of-72) from the floor, 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from beyond the arc and 70.0 percent (7-of-10) from the foul line. Roberts Wesleyan shot 41.8 percent (33-of-79) from the field, 29.2 percent (7-of-24) from downtown and 78.3 percent (18-of-23) from the charity stripe. Roberts Wesleyan held a 45-42 edge on the glass.

Interim Head Coach Chris Watts and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, January 11th when they play at St. Thomas Aquinas at 7 p.m.