BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Nov. 8, 2024) – Despite five Mavericks scoring in double figures, the Mercy University men's basketball team opened its 2024-25 season with a 93-76 loss at University of Bridgeport on Friday night at Harvey Hubbell Gym.
The Mavericks (0-1) open their season with a loss and fall to the Purple Knights (1-0) for the second straight year.
Mercy was led by sophomore Shedrach Makanjuola (Boston, Mass./Quincy College) who had a team-high 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting with seven rebounds in his first game as a Maverick. Senior Taj Chiles (Harlem, N.Y./University of Bridgeport) added 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting with four rebounds, three assists and three steals and junior TJ Holloway (Stratford, Conn./Central Connecticut State University) contributed 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds in his Mercy debut. Freshman Nathan Robertson (Boston, Mass./The Winchendon School) recorded 10 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals in his collegiate debut and senior Max Mitchell (Westport, Conn./Roberts Wesleyan University) netted 10 points and four rebounds. Freshman Ethan Robertson (Boston, Mass./The Winchendon School) scored seven points and added seven rebounds in his collegiate debut and sophomore Zein Wahdan (Alexandria, Egypt/Springfield Commonwealth Academy) had four points. Freshman James Connolly (Canton, Ga./The Winchendon School) scored two points in his first collegiate game.
Bridgeport was led by Malikai Delgado who had a game-high 19 points.
Bridgeport scored the game's first six points to take a 6-0 lead at the 18:39 mark of the first half. Mercy followed with six unanswered points to tie the game at 6-6 following a Makanjuola layup. The Purple Knights later held a 15-13 lead after Chiles scored for Mercy with 14 minutes left in the half.
Bridgeport increased the lead to five, 18-13, with 11:53 on the clock before the Mavericks went on an 8-0 run to take a 21-18 lead after a Makanjuola layup at the 7:37 mark of the first half. A Makanjuola free throw later gave Mercy a 22-20 lead with 7:16 remaining in the half.
The Purple Knights scored six straight points to take a 26-22 lead before baskets from Chiles and Connolly tied the game at 26-26 with 4:32 left in the half. Bridgeport ensued with a 14-2 run to take a 40-28 lead before a late Makanjuola free throw sent Mercy into halftime down 11, 40-29.
Bridgeport began the second half on a 23-8 run to take a 63-37 lead with 15:23 remaining. Mercy continued to battle and went on a 13-3 run to cut the Purple Knights lead to 16, 66-50, with 11:24 left after a Mitchell free throw.
The Purple Knights quickly increased the lead back to 20 and later built it to 24, 85-61, with 5:15 on the clock. Mercy rallied with an 11-0 run to make it 85-72 with 2:46 left to play after a Mitchell layup. A Holloway free throw at the 2:13 mark once again made it a 13-point game, 87-74, but Bridgeport scored the next four points to make it 91-74 and the Purple Knights held on for the 93-76 win.
Mercy shot 47.5 percent (28-of-59) from the floor, 16.7 percent (3-of-18) from downtown and 56.7 percent (17-of-30) from the foul line. Bridgeport shot 43.7 percent (38-of-87) from the field, 26.5 percent (9-of-34) from beyond the arc and 50.0 percent (8-of-16) from the charity stripe. Bridgeport held a 50-42 edge on the glass. The Purple Knights used 35 Mercy turnovers to hold a 40-18 edge in points off turnovers.
Head Coach Chris Watts and the Mavericks resume action on Sunday, November 10th when they face Post at Bridgeport at 12:30 p.m.
