DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Feb. 22, 2025) – Despite a team-high 18 points from freshmen Nathan Robertson (Boston, Mass./The Winchendon School) and Ethan Robertson (Boston, Mass./The Winchendon School), the Mercy University men's basketball team dropped an 86-68 decision to ECC foe Molloy University on Senior Day on Saturday afternoon at the Neil Judge Student Athlete Center.
In a ceremony prior to the game, Mercy honored seniors Taj Chiles (Harlem, N.Y./University of Bridgeport) and Max Mitchell (Westport, Conn./Roberts Wesleyan University) for their contributions to the program.
The Mavericks (7-17, 6-9 ECC) have dropped two games in a row and drop both meetings to the Lions (9-16, 5-9 ECC) this season.
Mercy was led by Nathan Robertson who had a team-high-tying 18 points with four rebounds and four assists. Ethan Robertson also had a team-high-tying 18 points with four rebounds and sophomore Derek Long (Milford, Conn./Deerfield Academy) recorded 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Junior TJ Holloway (Stratford, Conn./Central Connecticut State University) added nine points and a team-high eight rebounds and Chiles had seven points, five rebounds and a game-high seven assists. Mitchell contributed three points and sophomore Zein Wahdan (Alexandria, Egypt/Springfield Commonwealth Academy) scored two points.
Molloy was led by Rob Matos who had a game-high 23 points.
Mercy held a 3-2 lead after an Ethan Robertson three with 18:41 on the clock before Molloy went on a 17-3 run to take a 19-6 lead with 12:23 left in the half. A Holloway layup at the 9:23 mark made it 21-11, but the Lions responded with a 13-4 run to increase their lead to 19, 34-15, with 4:32 remaining in the half.
Molloy later held a 38-19 lead with 1:41 on the clock before Mercy closed the half on an 8-0 run, finished off by a Wahdan layup, cutting the Lions lead to 11, 38-27, at halftime.
The Lions scored the first seven points of the second half to take a 45-27 lead with 16:39 left. Mercy continued to battle and went on a 24-9 run, finished off by a Holloway four-point play, to cut Molloy's lead to three, 54-51, with 9:27 left.
Molloy scored the next six points to make it 60-51 and later held a 62-53 lead before an Ethan Robertson three made it 62-56 with 8:06 on the clock. A Dylan Kopp three capped a 7-2 run and gave the Lions a 69-58 lead with 6:18 left. A Long layup at the 5:02 mark made it 70-62 before Molloy went on a 16-2 run to take their largest lead of the game, 86-64, with 1:57 left. Back-to-back baskets from Nathan Robertson and Ethan Robertson made it 86-68, but it was not enough, and Molloy earned the 86-68 win.
Mercy shot 36.5 percent (27-of-74) from the floor, 34.8 percent (8-of-23) from downtown and 54.5 percent (6-of-11) from the foul line. Molloy shot 45.8 percent (33-of-72) from the field, 52.6 percent (10-of-19) from beyond the arc and 66.7 percent (10-of-15) from the charity stripe. Molloy held a 60-30 edge on the glass.
Head Coach Chris Watts and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, March 1st when they play at St. Thomas Aquinas at 4 p.m.
