DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 6, 2024) – The Mercy University men's basketball team opens its 2024-25 season on Friday, November 8th when they play at University of Bridgeport at 7 p.m. Mercy concludes the weekend playing Post University at Bridgeport on Sunday, November 10th at 12:30 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Friday, November 8th 7 p.m.
Records (2023-24): Mercy (2-24), Bridgeport (11-17)
Location: Bridgeport, Conn.
Date/Time: Sunday, November 10th 12:30 p.m.
Records (2023-24): Mercy (2-24), Post (21-10)
Location: Bridgeport, Conn.
Last Meeting vs. Bridgeport
Mercy dropped a 97-80 decision to Bridgeport on November 21, 2023.
Last Meeting vs. Post
Post earned an 83-64 win over Mercy on November 19, 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. Mercy is 4-33 in their last 37 meetings against Bridgeport but have won two of the last three meetings. The Mavericks look to beat Post for the first time since 2018.
Scouting the Purple Knights
Bridgeport went 11-17 last season and are picked sixth in the CACC North Division Preseason Poll. Leading the returners for the Purple Knights is Nick Traill who averaged 6.8 points per game and a team-high 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game last season. Caleb Jacobs is also back after netting 5.5 points per game last season.
Scouting the Eagles
Post went 21-10 last season, falling in the CACC Semifinals and advancing to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles are picked first in the CACC North Division Preseason Poll. Leading the returners for Post is Deng Deang who averaged a team-high 16.0 points per game last season with a team-high 7.6 rebounds per game. Bol Akot returns after posting 14.8 points and a team-high 3.4 assists per game a year ago and Robert Sanders is back after ranking third on the team with 10.8 points per game in 2023-24.
Next Game
Mercy plays at Division I Manhattan in an Exhibition on Tuesday, November 12th at 7 p.m.
