DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 17, 2023) – The Mercy University men's basketball team faces Goldey-Beacom College on Saturday, November 18th at 3 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas College before facing Post University on Sunday, November 19th at 3 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, November 18th 3 p.m.
Records: Mercy (0-4), Goldey-Beacom (1-2)
Location: Sparkill, N.Y. (St. Thomas Aquinas College)
Date/Time: Sunday, November 19th 3 p.m.
Records: Mercy (0-4), Post (3-0)
Location: Sparkill, N.Y. (St. Thomas Aquinas College)
Last Meeting vs. Goldey-Beacom
Goldey-Beacom earned an 85-76 win over Mercy on November 28, 2012.
Last Meeting vs. Post
Post earned a 73-62 win over Mercy on November 17, 2021.
Scouting the Mavericks
The Mavericks are coming off an 84-54 loss to Southern Connecticut State on Wednesday. Mercy was selected ninth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 6-20 overall and 3-13 in ECC play last season. The Mavericks are looking to make their first ECC Championship appearance since 2021. Mercy has not qualified for the ECC Championship without every team making it since 2016. The Mavericks are looking to win their season opener for the first time since 2017. Leading the returners for second-year Head Coach Chris Watts is senior Jayden Dewaal who was named Third Team All-ECC, ECC Player of the Week once and ECC Defensive Player of the Week twice last season. Dewaal averaged 12.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game last season, leading the ECC in rebounds per game and ranking fifth with 1.5 blocks per game. Dewaal ranked fifth in Division II in rebounds per game and third in offensive rebounds per game a year ago. Also, returning is graduate student Garrett Kirkland who averaged 8.1 points per game last season in 16 starts. Senior Braelon Joe returns after averaging 5.1 points and 3.2 assists per game last season, leading the team in assists per game. Also returning for Watts are seniors Alex May and Jay Turner and sophomores Sean Conroy, Asa Kone and Robert Zmujdzin. The newcomers are led by junior Taj Chiles who joins the Mavericks from University of Bridgeport where he led the CACC in assists last season with 5.2 per game. Junior Max Mitchell joins Mercy from Roberts Wesleyan University where he averaged 3.3 points per game and shot 44.4 percent from downtown last season. Also, joining the Mavericks as transfers are sophomore Jamal Jacobs (West Virginia Wesleyan College), sophomore Thomas Mandell (Penn State-Berks) and junior Elijah Botnick (UConn Avery Point). Watts also welcomes a strong freshman class led by Zein Wahdan who joins the team from Egypt. Derek Long and Ashton Sannasi will also look to compete for time in their first season at Mercy. The Mavericks have been led by Dewaal who averages a team-high 19.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game on a team-best 58.1 percent shooting. May was named to the ECC Honor Roll on Monday and is second on the team with 13.0 points per game and averages 4.0 rebounds per game. Kirkland is third on the team with 9.0 points per game and is making a team-high 3.0 three-pointers per game. Conroy averages 7.3 points per game and Kone is netting 6.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Chiles is posting 8.5 points per game and 2.3 assists per game. Mercy is 0-2 all-time against Goldey-Beacom and is looking for their first win over Post since 2018.
Scouting the Lightning
Goldey-Beacom is coming off an 83-63 loss to Lock Haven on Tuesday. The Lightning were picked second in the CACC South Division Preseason Poll after going 10-18 last season. Goldey-Beacom is led by Zayon Marsh who leads the team with 18.3 points per game and shoots 55.0 percent from the floor with a team-high 10.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Caleb Bates and Nazim Derry both average 13.0 points per game and Ayshion Centeno posts 9.7 points per game. Cardin Joubert is netting 9.0 points per game and Omari Banks is averaging 4.7 rebounds per game.
Scouting the Eagles
Post is coming off an 84-69 win over American International on Wednesday. The Eagles will face St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday before taking on the Mavericks on Sunday. Post was picked fourth in the CACC North Division Preseason Poll after going 15-13 last season, falling in the CACC Tournament. The Eagles are led by Deng Deang who leads the team with 20.3 points and 11.0 rebounds per game on 51.1 percent shooting. Deang also leads the team with 3.0 steals and 1.7 blocks per game. Bol Akot is second on the team with 17.0 points per game and leads the team with 4.3 assists per game. Robert Sanders nets 12.7 points per game and Ta'Quan Williams pours in 10.7 points per game.
Next Game
Mercy hosts Bridgeport on Tuesday, November 21st at 7 p.m.
