DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 9, 2023) – The Mercy University men's basketball team opens its 2023-24 season on Friday, November 10th when they play at Caldwell University at 7 p.m. The Mavericks will then face Dominican University on Sunday, November 12th at 1 p.m. at Caldwell before playing at Felician University on Monday, November 13th at 7 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Friday, November 10th 7 p.m.
Records: Mercy (0-0), Caldwell (0-0)
Location: Caldwell, N.J.
Date/Time: Sunday, November 12th 1 p.m.
Records: Mercy (0-0), Dominican (0-0)
Location: Caldwell, N.J.
Date/Time: Monday, November 13th 7 p.m.
Records: Mercy (0-0), Felician (0-0)
Location: Rutherford, N.J.
Last Meeting vs. Caldwell
Caldwell earned a 91-74 win over Mercy on November 27, 2022.
Last Meeting vs. Dominican
Dominican earned a 69-64 win over Mercy on November 20, 2021.
Last Meeting vs. Felician
Felician earned a 78-71 win over Mercy on November 12, 2022.
Scouting the Mavericks
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.
Scouting the Cougars
Caldwell was picked first in the CACC North Division Preseason Poll after going 22-10 last season, winning the CACC Championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars have won 11 straight meetings against Mercy. Caldwell is led by sophomore Darnell Evans who averaged a team-high 18.8 points and 3.8 assists per game last season. Also returning is junior Mark Heber who was second on the team with 14.8 points per game a year ago. Junior Derrick Bueno also returns after averaging 10.7 points per game last season.
Scouting the Chargers
Dominican was picked second in the CACC North Division Preseason Poll after going 21-9 last season, falling in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Chargers have won seven straight meetings against Mercy. Dominican is led by sophomore Javel Cherry who was third on the team last season with 9.3 points per game. Also returning is junior Seth Sharif-Brown who averaged 8.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in 2022-23. Senior Joshua Serrano returns after netting 7.0 points per game last season.
Scouting the Golden Falcons
Felician was picked third in the CACC North Division Preseason Poll after going 6-21 last season. The Golden Falcons are 5-1 in their last six meetings against Mercy with the lone win coming for Mercy in 2014. Leading the returners for Felician is senior Anas Amos who averaged a team-high 13.1 points per game last season with a team-high 3.8 assists per game. Graduate student Jaylen Colon also returns after averaging 13.2 points per game last season in five games. During the 2021-22 season he averaged 15.8 points per game.
Next Game
Mercy hosts Southern Connecticut State on Wednesday, November 15th at 7 p.m.
