AMHERST, N.Y. (Feb. 18, 2024) – Despite a game-high and career-high 27 points from senior Alex May (Englewood, N.J./St. Francis College (Brooklyn), the Mercy University men's basketball team dropped a 123-75 decision to ECC foe Daemen University on Sunday afternoon at Lumsden Gymnasium.

The Mavericks (1-22, 0-13 ECC) have dropped 12 games in a row and fall to 0-22 all-time against the Wildcats (19-7, 9-4 ECC).

Mercy was led by May who had a career-high 27 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the floor and 5-of-9 shooting from downtown. Graduate student Garrett Kirkland (Springdale, Md./Bishop McNamara) added 13 points and sophomore Asa Kone (Bronx, N.Y./Eagle Academy for Young Men) had eight points and a game-high seven rebounds. Senior Jay Turner (Waterbury, Conn./Notre Dame West Haven Prep) recorded eight points and five rebounds and junior Taj Chiles (Harlem, N.Y./University of Bridgeport) had five points and a team-high five assists. Sophomore Sean Conroy (Staten Island, N.Y./Trinity-Pawling) contributed eight points and sophomore Jamal Jacobs (Tampa, Fla./West Virginia Wesleyan College) netted four points. Freshman Derek Long (Milford, Conn./Deerfield Academy) chipped in two points and five rebounds.

Daemen was led by Phil Nwugwo who had a team-high 20 points.

The Wildcats opened the game with a 13-3 lead at the 16:20 mark and did not look back. A Kirkland three with 11:24 left in the opening half cut the Daemen lead to eight, 24-16. The Wildcats went on a 13-6 run to increase the lead to 15, 37-22, with 8:38 remaining in the half. A Kirkland jumper and May three got the Mavericks to within 10, 37-27, with 7:32 on the clock.

Daemen ended the half on a 28-9 run to head into halftime with a 65-36 lead.

The Wildcats outscored the Mavericks 58-39 in the second half, earning the 123-75 win.

Mercy shot 39.4 percent (26-of-66) from the floor, 38.5 percent (10-of-26) from downtown and 76.5 percent (13-of-17) from the foul line. Daemen shot 58.8 percent (47-of-80) from the field, 50.0 percent (16-of-32) from beyond the arc and 81.3 percent (13-of-16) from the charity stripe. Daemen held a 48-26 edge on the glass.

Head Coach Chris Watts and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, February 21st when they host Queens at 5 p.m.