BUFFALO, N.Y. (Feb. 16, 2024) – Despite six Mavericks scoring in double figures, the Mercy University men's basketball team dropped a 96-76 decision at ECC foe D'Youville University on Friday night at the College Center Gym.

The Mavericks (1-21, 0-12 ECC) have dropped 11 games in a row, while the Saints (7-17, 4-9 ECC) snap a seven-game losing streak.

Mercy was led by senior Jay Turner (Waterbury, Conn./Notre Dame West Haven Prep) who scored a team-high 15 points with six rebounds. Junior Taj Chiles (Harlem, N.Y./University of Bridgeport) had 12 points with a team-high four assists and sophomore Sean Conroy (Staten Island, N.Y./Trinity-Pawling) recorded 12 points and six rebounds. Senior Alex May (Englewood, N.J./St. Francis College (Brooklyn) chipped in 12 points and five rebounds. Sophomore Asa Kone (Bronx, N.Y./Eagle Academy for Young Men) added a double-double by way of 10 points and a team-high 11 rebounds and graduate student Garrett Kirkland (Springdale, Md./Bishop McNamara) netted 10 points and a team-high three steals. Sophomore Jamal Jacobs (Tampa, Fla./West Virginia Wesleyan College) scored three points and junior Elijah Botnick (Hartford, Conn./UConn Avery Point) contributed two points.

D'Youville was led by Bryson Birdsong who had a game-high 24 points.

The Saints jumped out to a 12-7 lead at the 13:35 mark of the first half before Mercy rallied with a 7-0 run to take a 14-12 lead with 11:29 on the clock after three Kirkland free throws. The Mavericks later held an 18-16 lead with 8:44 left in the half after a Kone dunk. However, D'Youville answered with a 20-4 run to take a 36-22 lead with 1:12 left in the half.

A Conroy jumper and Chiles three at the buzzer cut the Saints lead to nine, 36-27, at halftime.

D'Youville scored the first five points of the second half to increase the lead to 14, 41-27, with 17:53 remaining. A Conroy three with 17:16 left cut the Saints lead to 11, 41-30, but D'Youville went on a 20-7 run to build the lead to 24, 61-37, at the 11:33 mark.

Mercy continued to battle and went on an 18-4 run to get within 10, 65-55, with 7:53 on the clock after three Conroy three throws. The Saints ensued with a 15-2 run to put the lead back to 23, 80-57, with 6:02 left. D'Youville led by double figures for the remainder of the game and earned the 96-76 win.

Mercy shot 30.9 percent (21-of-68) from the floor, 23.8 percent (5-of-21) from downtown and 78.4 percent (29-of-37) from the foul line. D'Youville shot 48.6 percent (35-of-72) from the field, 36.4 percent (12-of-33) from beyond the arc and 60.9 percent (14-of-23) from the charity stripe. D'Youville held a 48-42 edge on the glass.

Head Coach Chris Watts and the Mavericks resume action on Sunday, February 18th when they play at Daemen at 2 p.m.