FLUSHING, N.Y. (Feb. 25, 2023) – Despite three Mavericks scoring in double figures, the Mercy College men's basketball team dropped a 99-82 decision to ECC foe Queens College in their 2022-23 season finale on Saturday afternoon at Fitzgerald Gymnasium.

The Mavericks (6-20, 3-13 ECC) end the season 3-2 in their last five games and drop both meetings to the Knights (8-20, 5-11 ECC) this season.

Mercy was led by graduate student Sean Smith Jr. (Yonkers, N.Y./University of New Haven) who had a team-high 20 points on 10-of-19 shooting with six rebounds. Junior Jayden Dewaal (Toronto, Canada/Trinidad State Junior College) had 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting with a game-high 14 rebounds. Senior James Taylor Jr. (South Chesterfield, Va./Neosho County CC) added 13 points and four assists and senior Garrett Kirkland (Springdale, Md./Bishop McNamara) chipped in nine points. Senior Brandon Wilson (Farmingdale, N.J./Covenant College Prep) recorded eight points and four assists and freshman Sean Conroy (Staten Island, N.Y./Trinity-Pawling) had seven points. Freshman Asa Kone (Bronx, N.Y./Eagle Academy for Young Men) netted four points and senior Jonathan Lapierre (Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook) had three points and seven rebounds. Junior Braelon Joe (Houston, Texas/Monroe College) contributed two points.

Queens was led by Sunnie Diamond who had a game-high 34 points.

The game featured 11 ties and 16 lead changes. Mercy jumped out to a 13-10 lead at the 13:36 mark of the first half after a Dewaal layup. Queens stormed back on an 11-0 run to take a 21-13 lead with 11:10 left in the half. The Mavericks answered with a 16-6 run, finished off by a Smith Jr. jumper, to take a 29-27 lead with 3:48 left in the half.

Mercy later held a 36-34 lead before Diamond drained a three right before halftime to give Queens a 37-36 lead at halftime.

A Kirkland three to open the second half gave the Mavericks a 39-37 lead. The Knights followed with a 6-2 spurt to take the lead back at 43-41 with 18:30 left. Queens later held a 53-50 lead before six straight points from the Mavericks gave Mercy a 56-53 lead with 13 minutes left. The Knights rallied with six straight points of their own to take the lead back at 59-56 at the 10:47 mark. Mercy battled back and regained the lead at 63-61 with 9:45 on the clock after a Conroy three.

The Knights would respond with a 15-4 run to take a 76-67 lead with 6:39 remaining. A Wilson three made it 76-70, but Queens went on an 18-7 run to increase the lead to 17, 94-77, with 1:37 left and held on for the victory.

Mercy shot 47.1 percent (33-of-70) from the floor, 26.1 percent (6-of-23) from downtown and 58.8 percent (10-of-17) from the foul line. Queens shot 54.1 percent (33-of-61) from the field, 48.1 percent (13-of-27) from beyond the arc and 71.4 percent (20-of-28) from the charity stripe. Mercy held a 39-33 edge on the glass.