DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Jan. 27, 2024) – Despite a combined 46 points from junior Taj Chiles (Harlem, N.Y./University of Bridgeport) and sophomore Asa Kone (Bronx, N.Y./Eagle Academy for Young Men), the Mercy University men's basketball team dropped a 78-71 decision to ECC foe University of the District of Columbia on Saturday afternoon at the Neil Judge Student Athlete Center.
The Mavericks (1-17, 0-8 ECC) have dropped seven games in a row, while the Firebirds (6-11, 4-4 ECC) sweep the season series with Mercy.
Mercy was led by Chiles who had a game-high and career-high 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting with a game-high seven assists. Kone recorded his first career double-double by way of a career-high 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting and 11 rebounds to go along with three blocks. Senior Alex May (Englewood, N.J./St. Francis College (Brooklyn) netted nine points and eight rebounds and graduates student Garrett Kirkland (Springdale, Md./Bishop McNamara) produced nine points. Senior Jay Turner (Waterbury, Conn./Notre Dame West Haven Prep) contributed four points, 11 rebounds and four assists and sophomore Sean Conroy (Staten Island, N.Y./Trinity-Pawling) scored three points.
UDC was led by Hartnel Haye who had a team-high 19 points.
Mercy jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after back-to-back baskets from Kone. The Firebirds rallied with an 8-1 run to take an 8-5 lead with 16:50 left in the opening half. The Mavericks rallied with a 9-2 run to retake the lead at 14-10 following a Chiles three with 12:01 on the clock.
The Mavericks later held a 21-17 lead after a Kone dunk with 8:29 left in the half and a Kirkland three increased the Mercy lead to five, 24-19, at the 7:56 mark. A pair of Micah Campbell free throws made it 25-23 before a May three and Turner free throw built the Mavericks lead to six, 29-23, with 5:32 left in the half. A Chiles layup at the 4:32 mark gave Mercy a 31-25 lead, but the Firebirds rallied with a 7-0 run to take a 32-31 lead with 3:05 on the clock. The Mavericks followed with an 8-2 run to take a 39-34 lead after a Chiles layup. An Eric Morgan Jr. layup at the buzzer cut Mercy's lead to three, 39-36, at halftime.
A Campbell layup to open the second half got UDC to within one, 39-38. Back-to-back baskets from Kone gave Mercy a 43-38 lead and the Mavericks later held a 45-40 advantage following a Kone layup with 16:35 left. Another Kone layup at the 12:30 mark gave the Mavericks a five-point lead, 49-44. UDC stormed back on a 22-6 run to take a 66-55 lead with 3:44 remaining. Mercy continued to battle and cut the deficit to seven, 72-65, after a May layup with 1:01 on the clock. Four straight points by the Firebirds made it 76-65 with 36 seconds left. A late Chiles layup got the Mavericks to within seven, 78-71, but they could not get closer and UDC held on for the 78-71 win.
Mercy shot 44.1 percent (26-of-59) from the floor, 41.2 percent (7-of-17) from downtown and 60.0 percent (12-of-20) from the foul line. UDC shot 41.3 percent (31-of-75) from the field, 22.2 percent (4-of-18) from beyond the arc and 54.5 percent (12-of-22) from the charity stripe. UDC held a 44-42 edge on the glass.
Head Coach Chris Watts and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, January 31st when they play at Queens at 7:30 p.m.
