FLUSHING, N.Y. (Jan. 31, 2024) – Despite five Mavericks scoring in double figures, the Mercy University men's basketball team dropped a 96-84 decision to ECC foe Queens College on Wednesday night at Fitzgerald Gymnasium.
The Mavericks (1-18, 0-9 ECC) have dropped eight games in a row and fall to the Knights (12-8, 6-3 ECC) for the third straight time.
Mercy was led by junior Taj Chiles (Harlem, N.Y./University of Bridgeport) who had a team-high 22 points on 11-of-17 shooting with a game-high-tying seven assists. Senior Jayden Dewaal (Toronto, Canada/Trinidad State Junior College) added 16 points and eight rebounds and senior Alex May (Englewood, N.J./St. Francis College (Brooklyn) recorded his first career double-double by way of 15 points and a game-high and career-high 12 rebounds. Sophomore Asa Kone (Bronx, N.Y./Eagle Academy for Young Men) chipped in 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting with 11 rebounds and sophomore Sean Conroy (Staten Island, N.Y./Trinity-Pawling) netted 12 points. Graduate student Garrett Kirkland (Springdale, Md./Bishop McNamara) scored five points and sophomore Jamal Jacobs (Tampa, Fla./West Virginia Wesleyan College) contributed two points.
Queens was led by Shamar Chester who had a game-high 28 points.
The Knights held a 15-10 lead with 15:40 left in the first half before Mercy went on a 12-2 run to take their largest lead of the game, 22-17, following a Dewaal layup at the 12:36 mark. The Mavericks later held a 26-22 lead following a Kone layup before Queens scored the next five points to retake the lead at 27-26 with 9:15 on the clock.
A Chiles jumper with 8:53 remaining in the half gave Mercy a 28-27 lead. The hosts went on a 7-2 run to take a 34-30 lead before a Jacobs jumper later cut the Knights' lead to one, 36-35, with 5:20 on the clock. Queens ensued with a 9-0 run to increase their lead to 10, 45-35, with 2:59 remaining in the half. The Mavericks ended the half on a 7-2 run, capped off by a May jumper, to head into halftime down five, 47-42.
A Kirkland three with 17:01 remaining tied the game at 53-53 before Queens ensued with an 11-4 run to take a 64-57 lead with 14:23 left. A Chiles jumper at the 9:21 mark cut the Knights' lead to three, 70-67. However, Queens rallied with a 19-6 run to increase their lead to a game-high 16 points, 89-73, with 2:09 on the clock. The Knights led by double digits for the rest of the game, earning the 96-84 win.
Mercy shot 45.8 percent (33-of-72) from the floor, 33.3 percent (4-of-12) from downtown and 82.4 percent (14-of-17) from the foul line. Queens shot 49.4 percent (39-of-79) from the field, 50.0 percent (9-of-18) from beyond the arc and 64.3 percent (9-of-14) from the charity stripe. Queens held a 43-40 edge on the glass.
Head Coach Chris Watts and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, February 3rd when they host Molloy at 2 p.m.
