DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 14, 2024) – The Mercy University men's basketball team hosts Goldey-Beacom College in their home opener on Saturday, November 16th at 4 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, November 16th 4 p.m.
Records: Mercy (0-2), Goldey-Beacom (1-2)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Goldey-Beacom
Goldey-Beacom earned an 88-66 win over Mercy on November 18, 2023.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy was selected ninth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 2-24 overall and 1-15 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 third-year Head Coach Chris Watts is senior Taj Chiles who averaged 12.2 points, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game last season. He led the team in assists and steals per game and was third in points per game. Chiles ranked fourth in the ECC in assists per game last season. Also returning for the Mavericks is senior Max Mitchell who averaged 3.9 points per game in seven games last season before suffering a season-ending injury. Junior Jamal Jacobs returns after appearing in all 26 games last season and junior Thomas Mandell and sophomores Zein Wahdan, Derek Long and Aston Sannasi also return after playing in a combined 188 minutes last season. Leading the newcomers for Watts is junior TJ Holloway who transfers from Division I Central Connecticut State University. Holloway appeared in 22 games averaging 1.2 points per game in two seasons. Junior Camryn Reyes joins the Mavericks from Fort Scott Community College where he led the NJCAA in three-point percentage. Sophomore Shedrach Makanjuola joins Mercy from Quincy College where he averaged 15.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Watts also brings in a strong freshman class led by James Connolly, Nathan Robertson and Ethan Robertson.
The Mavericks are coming off an 88-71 loss at Division I Manhattan in an Exhibition on Tuesday. Mercy was led by freshman Ethan Robertson who had a team-high 21 points. Mercy opened their 2024-25 season with losses to Bridgeport and Post on November 8th and 10th. The Mavericks were led by Makanjuola who averaged a team-high 20.0 points per game on 69.6 percent shooting with 5.5 rebounds per game. Chiles averaged 13.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game and freshman Nathan Robertson netted 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Holloway is averaging 11.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game and senior Max Mitchell is producing 7.5 points per game. Makanjuola and Chiles were named to the ECC Honor Roll on Monday. Mercy looks to defeat Goldey-Beacom for the first time.
Scouting the Lightning
Goldey-Beacom is coming off a 79-50 loss to Millersville on Wednesday. The Lightning were picked second in the CACC South Preseason Poll after going 15-14 last season, falling in the CACC Championship. Goldey-Beacom is led by Zayon Marsh who averages a team-high 16.3 points per game on 55.9 percent shooting with 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Zakari McQueen averages 12.7 points per game and Jalen Robinson pours in 8.3 points per game. David Robinson averages 6.3 rebounds per game and Marsh averages a team-high 1.7 blocks per game.
Next Game
Mercy plays at Bloomfield on Tuesday, November 26th at 7:30 p.m.
