DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Dec. 4, 2024) – The Mercy University men's basketball team hosts ECC foe Roberts Wesleyan University in their ECC opener on Friday, December 6th at 8 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Friday, December 6th 8 p.m.
Records: Mercy (0-5, 0-0 ECC), Roberts Wesleyan (3-4, 0-0 ECC)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Roberts Wesleyan
Mercy dropped an 84-68 decision to Roberts Wesleyan on February 9, 2024.
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 a 75-59 loss to Chestnut Hill on Tuesday. Mercy was led by freshman Ethan Robertson who had a team-high 17 points. The Mavericks have been led by Makanjuola who is averaging 13.8 points per game on 60.4 percent shooting with 5.0 rebounds per game. Senior Taj Chiles is averaging 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and a team-high 4.0 assists per game and freshman Nathan Robertson is netting 11.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Junior TJ Holloway is averaging a team-high 14.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game and senior Max Mitchell is producing 6.8 points per game. Freshman Ethan Robertson is averaging 9.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Makanjuola and Chiles were named to the ECC Honor Roll on November 11th and Holloway was tabbed to the Honor Roll on November 18th. Nathan Robertson was named ECC Rookie of the Week on Monday and Makanjuola was tabbed to the Honor Roll. Mercy is 5-17 all-time against the Redhawks and have dropped seven straight meetings. The Mavericks last defeated Roberts Wesleyan in 2019. Mercy looks to win their ECC opener for the first time since 2022.
Scouting the Redhawks
Roberts Wesleyan is coming off a 73-70 loss at Mansfield on Tuesday. The Redhawks were picked fourth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 13-13 last season. Roberts Wesleyan is led by Malik Brooks who is averaging a team-high 21.4 points per game with 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Jermaine Taggart II is second on the team with 10.1 points per game and Ryan Garwood is third with 9.1 points per game. Keonjay Carter and Trey Kleitz both average 8.9 points per game. Arnardo Camacho leads the team with 7.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.9 steals per game.
Next Game
Mercy hosts Franklin Pierce on Monday, December 9th at 7 p.m.
