PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (Jan. 16, 2024) – Despite a game-high-tying 19 points from senior Alex May (Englewood, N.J./St. Francis College (Brooklyn) and double-doubles from seniors Jay Turner (Waterbury, Conn./Notre Dame West Haven Prep) and Jayden Dewaal (Toronto, Canada/Trinidad State Junior College), the Mercy University men's basketball team dropped a 76-64 decision at Chestnut Hill College on Tuesday night at Sorgenti Arena.
The Mavericks (1-13) have dropped three games in a row, while the Griffins (4-13) have won three games in a row.
Mercy was led by May who went 6-of-12 from the floor and 4-of-7 from downtown with four rebounds. Turner added 16 points and a career-high 12 rebounds to go along with a game-high four assists. Dewaal recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds and graduate student Garrett Kirkland (Springdale, Md./Bishop McNamara) netted 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting. Junior Taj Chiles (Harlem, N.Y./University of Bridgeport) contributed four points and two assists.
Chestnut Hill was led by Kamal Lee who had a game-high-tying 19 points.
Chestnut Hill opened the game with a 6-2 lead at the 17:17 mark before Mercy went on an 11-3 run, finished off by a Dewaal layup, to take a 13-9 lead with 10:13 left in the first half. The Mavericks later held a 24-21 lead following another Dewaal layup before the Griffins scored the next four points to retake the lead at 25-24.
The Mavericks closed the half on a 12-6 run, capped off by a pair of May free throws, to take a 36-31 lead at halftime.
Mercy began the second half on a 6-2 run to take their largest lead of the game, 42-33, with 17:11 left after a Turner free throw. The Mavericks later held a 49-43 lead after a May three with 13:09 remaining before the hosts netted seven consecutive points to take a 50-49 lead with 11:34 on the clock.
A Kirkland three at the 11:22 mark gave Mercy the lead back at 52-50. Chestnut Hill came back on a 13-4 run to take a 63-56 lead with 6:10 remaining. The Mavericks continued to battle and went on an 8-3 run to cut the deficit to two, 66-64, with 3:09 left after a May three. A Lee three on the next Chestnut Hill made it 69-64 and the Griffins would close the game out with the game's final 10 points to earn the 76-64 win.
Mercy shot 40.6 percent (26-of-64) from the floor, 50.0 percent (7-of-14) from downtown and 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from the foul line. Chestnut Hill shot 40.6 percent (28-of-69) from the field, 31.0 percent (9-of-29) from beyond the arc and 68.8 percent (11-of-16) from the charity stripe. Chestnut Hill held a 43-39 edge on the glass.
Head Coach Chris Watts and the Mavericks resume action on Friday, January 19th when they host D'Youville at 7 p.m.
