FLUSHING, N.Y. (Feb. 19, 2025) – Despite a game-high 23 points from freshman Nathan Robertson (Boston, Mass./The Winchendon School), the Mercy University men's basketball team dropped an 80-65 decision at ECC foe Queens College on Wednesday night at Fitzgerald Gymnasium.

The Mavericks (7-16, 6-8 ECC) see their two-game winning streak come to an end and earn a season split with the Knights (10-15, 6-7 ECC).

Mercy was led by Nathan Robertson who had a game-high 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting overall and 4-of-5 shooting from downtown with a game-high six assists. Freshman Ethan Robertson (Boston, Mass./The Winchendon School) had 11 points and five rebounds and senior Taj Chiles (Harlem, N.Y./University of Bridgeport) had nine points, three assists and a game-high five steals. Sophomore Shedrach Makanjuola (Boston, Mass./Quincy College) added nine points and a game-high-tying 11 rebounds to go with a team-high two blocks. Junior TJ Holloway (Stratford, Conn./Central Connecticut State University) scored eight points and had six rebounds and senior Max Mitchell (Westport, Conn./Roberts Wesleyan University) contributed three points. Freshman James Connolly (Canton, Ga./The Winchendon School) scored two points.

Queens was led by Nasan Ayala who had a team-high 22 points.

An Ethan Robertson jumper at the 18:33 mark of the first half gave Mercy a 2-0 lead before the hosts went on an 11-5 run to take an 11-7 lead with 15:09 left in the half. A Nathan Robertson three and Ethan Robertson free throw tied the game at 11-11 with 13:34 remaining in the half. The Knights followed with a 16-3 run to take a 27-14 lead at the 8:06 mark.

Mercy answered with an 8-0 run, capped off by a Holloway three, to make it 27-22 with 6:05 left in the half. Queens went on a 10-2 run to increase the lead back to 13, 37-24, with 2:54 remaining in the half and headed into halftime with a 39-30 lead.

A Nathan Robertson jumper and Holloway free throw made it 39-33 with 19:08 left. Queens went on a 22-4 run to take their largest lead of the game, 61-37, with 9:14 remaining. The Knights later held a 66-44 lead with 6:00 left, but Mercy continued to battle and went on a 14-0 run, finished off by a Nathan Robertson three, to cut the Knights' lead to eight, 66-58, with 2:17 left.

Queens scored the next five points to take a 71-58 lead with 1:30 on the clock and came away with the 80-65 win.

Mercy shot 37.9 percent (25-of-66) from the floor, 28.6 percent (8-of-28) from downtown and 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from the foul line. Queens shot 48.0 percent (24-of-50) from the field, 55.0 percent (11-of-20) from downtown and 80.8 percent (21-of-26) from the charity stripe. Queens held a 39-33 edge on the glass.

Head Coach Chris Watts and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, February 22nd when they host Molloy for Senior Day at 2 p.m.