WASHINGTON, D.C. – Despite a game-high 28 points from junior Jordan Trahan (New Orleans, La./Odessa College), the Mercy University Men's Basketball Team dropped a hard-fought 63-61 decision at ECC foe University of the District of Columbia on Wednesday night.

The Mavericks (2-13, 2-4 ECC) have dropped five games in a row and split the season series with the Firebirds (2-12, 1-5 ECC).

The game began with Arthur Roache scoring a layup for UDC, assisted by Oliver Spence at the 19:57 mark. Trahan responded with a jumper at 18:09 with an assist from sophomore Joshua Naklen (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bedford Academy), narrowing the gap to five points. The Firebirds extended their lead to 12 points, the largest of the half, following a jumper by Kevon Corley at 9:57. Mercy closed the gap with a 3-pointer from Trahan and a layup by freshman Jeffrey Mulhern (Duanesburg, N.Y./Duanesburg), reducing the deficit to two points. However, the Firebirds finished strong, with Spence contributing key points in the paint, helping UDC secure a 36-26 lead at the end of the first half.

The second half saw the Firebirds score the first eight points of the frame to take a game-high 18-point lead, 44-26, with 17:03 remaining. The Mavericks rallied with an 11-0 run, capped off by a Trahan layup, to make it 44-37 with 13:26 left. UDC answered with six straight points to increase the lead back to 13, 50-37, at the 11:42 mark. The Firebirds held a 54-43 lead with 7:41 on the clock before Mercy continued to battle and went on a 12-1 run to tie the game at 55-55 with 4:11 remaining after a Trahan layup. A free throw from Spence gave the Firebirds a 56-55 lead before a senior TJ Holloway (Stratford, Conn./Central Connecticut State University) jumper and Trahan three gave the Mavericks their largest lead of the game, 60-56, with 2:45 left. A Karris Scott three-point play and Michael Harrell layup gave UDC the lead back at 61-60 with 1:12 on the clock. Trahan went 1-of-2 from the foul line to tie the game at 61-61 with 39 seconds remaining. A Scott layup with 24 seconds left gave the Firebirds a 63-61 lead. Following a Mercy timeout, the Mavericks had two good looks to tie the game, but couldn't connect, and UDC earned the 63-61 win.

Trahan led Mercy with a game-high 28 points, hitting three 3-pointers and securing a team-high nine rebounds. Holloway contributed 17 points, adding eight rebounds and two steals to his performance. Junior Ashton Pratt (Alexandria, Va./Chesapeake College) added 10 points and dished out six assists while converting six free throws. Freshman Tyrell Miller (Los Angeles, Calif./Frederick K.C. Price III Christian School) anchored the defense with three blocks and collected eight rebounds.

Harrell led UDC with 13 points and added two steals. Spence was dominant on the boards, pulling down 10 rebounds while scoring a team-high 17 points.

Mercy shot 30.2 percent (19-of-63) from the floor, 46.2 percent (6-of-13) from downtown and 85.0 percent (17-of-20) from the foul line. UDC shot 37.5 percent (24-of-64) from the field, 30.8 percent (4-of-13) from beyond the arc and 61.1 percent (11-of-18) from the charity stripe. Mercy held a 48-43 edge on the glass.

Head Coach Charles Marquardt and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, January 17th when they host Staten Island at 2 p.m.