DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Feb. 3, 2024) – Despite senior Alex May (Englewood, N.J./St. Francis College (Brooklyn) and sophomore Sean Conroy (Staten Island, N.Y./Trinity-Pawling) scoring in double figures, the Mercy University men's basketball team dropped a 79-66 decision to ECC foe Molloy University on Saturday afternoon at the Neil Judge Student Athlete Center.
The Mavericks (1-19, 0-10 ECC) have dropped nine games in a row, while the Lions (5-16, 3-7 ECC) earn their first win in Dobbs Ferry since February 13, 2021.
Mercy was led by May who had a team-high 21 points on 11-of-13 shooting from the foul line with a team-high nine rebounds in 40 minutes of action. Conroy netted 13 points on 3-of-6 shooting from downtown with four rebounds and sophomore Asa Kone (Bronx, N.Y./Eagle Academy for Young Men) added nine points and seven rebounds. Junior Taj Chiles (Harlem, N.Y./University of Bridgeport) recorded nine points and a game-high four assists and senior Jayden Dewaal (Toronto, Canada/Trinidad State Junior College) chipped in six points. Graduate student Garrett Kirkland (Springdale, Md./Bishop McNamara) contributed six points and sophomore Jamal Jacobs (Tampa, Fla./West Virginia Wesleyan College) scored two points and had six rebounds and two assists.
Molloy was led by Rob Matos who had a game-high 22 points.
The Mavericks jumped out to an early 7-4 lead after a Dewaal layup at the 16:49 mark of the first half. The Lions answered with a 24-10 run to take a 28-17 lead with 8:08 remaining in the half. Mercy continued to battle and rallied with a 9-0 run, finished off by a Dewaal layup, to cut Molloy's lead to two, 28-26, with 4:24 left in the half.
A Conroy jumper with 3:08 on the clock made it 32-30 in favor of the Lions. Molloy scored the final four points of the half to head into halftime with a 36-30 lead.
A Chiles free throw at the 19:27 mark of the second half got Mercy to within five, 36-31. The Lions stormed back on an 11-0 run to increase their lead to 16, 47-31, with 17:13 remaining. A Mick Browne layup gave Molloy an 18-point lead, 60-42, with 11:58 left. The Mavericks scored the next seven points, capped off by May three-point play, to make it 60-49 with 9:56 on the clock.
The visitors ensued with a 10-0 run to increase their lead to a game-high 21 points, 70-49, at the 4:20 mark. Mercy ended the game on a 17-9 run, finished off by a Kirkland three, to make it 79-66, but it was not enough, and Molloy earned the 79-66 win.
Mercy shot 34.4 percent (21-of-61) from the floor, 36.8 percent (7-of-19) from downtown and 73.9 percent (17-of-23) from the foul line. Molloy shot 41.3 percent (26-of-63) from the field, 35.0 percent (7-of-20) from beyond the arc and 87.0 percent (20-of-23) from the charity stripe. Molloy held a 42-40 edge on the glass.
Head Coach Chris Watts and the Mavericks resume action on Friday, February 9th when they host Roberts Wesleyan at 7 p.m.
