DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Despite a game-high and career-high 32 points from sophomore Kohen Rowbatham (Slidell, La./University of New Orleans), the Mercy University Men's Basketball Team dropped a hard-fought 103-98 overtime decision to ECC foe College of Staten Island on Saturday afternoon at the Judge Athletic Center.

The Mavericks (2-14, 2-5 ECC) have dropped six games in a row and drop both meetings to the Dolphins (14-5, 5-2 ECC) this season.

Mercy took an early 3-0 lead with a 3-pointer by senior TJ Holloway (Stratford, Conn./Central Connecticut State University), assisted by Rowbatham at 19:45. Staten Island quickly responded with a layup by Asa Kone to narrow the gap. Throughout the half, both teams exchanged leads multiple times, with Staten Island eventually pulling ahead. Eric Tynes and Joey Poulin were instrumental for Staten Island, contributing crucial points, including a fast break layup by Poulin at 2:28. Despite Mercy's efforts, including a 3-pointer from freshman Jeffrey Mulhern (Duanesburg, N.Y./Duanesburg) at 4:29, Staten Island ended the first half with a seven-point lead, 50-43.

A Rowbatham layup to open the second half cut the Dolphins lead to five, 50-45. Back-to-back baskets from Staten Island increased their lead to nine, 54-45, with 17:24 left in regulation. The visitors later held a 57-49 lead before a junior Jordan Trahan (New Orleans, La./Odessa College) three and freshman Tyrell Miller (Los Angeles, Calif./Frederick K.C. Price III Christan School) layup made it 57-54 at the 15:05 mark. The Dolphins increased the lead back to eight, 72-64, with 9:44 on the clock and looked to be pulling away from Mercy. However, the Mavericks scored the next eight points, capped off by a Holloway layup, to tie the score at 72-72 with 7:52 remaining in regulation. A Mitchell Wiggan layup with 3:24 left in regulation gave the Dolphins an 80-76 lead. A junior Ashton Pratt (Alexandria, Va./Chesapeake College) three made it 80-79 before JJ Chestnut answered with a three to give Staten Island an 83-79 lead with 1:52 on the clock. Rowbatham and Aaron Goldstein traded layups to make it 85-81 at the 1:10 mark. A Holloway three made it 85-84 before Goldstein went 2-of-2 from the line to make it 87-84 with 30 seconds remaining in regulation. A Rowbatham jumper later made it 87-86 before Goldstein went 1-of-2 from the line to make it 88-86. Holloway nailed a jumper with five seconds on the clock to the tie the score at 88-88. After a Staten Island timeout, Miller blocked a game-winning layup attempt by Kone at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime tied at 88-88.

The Mavericks opened the overtime period on a 6-2 spurt, finished off by a Holloway jumper, to take a 94-90 lead with 3:02 on the clock. Three straight Dolphins points made it 94-93 before Rowbatham connected on a layup to give Mercy a 96-93 lead at the 2:02 mark. Goldstein followed that up with a tying three and a layup to put the visitors up, 98-96, with 52 seconds left. After a missed jumper by Holloway on the next Mercy possession, Goldstein got the rebound and was fouled. Goldstein went 2-of-2 from the line to make it 100-96 with 28 seconds remaining. Pratt missed a three on the next Maverick possession and Chestnut got the ensuing rebound and 1-of-2 from the line to give the Dolphins a 101-96 lead with 19 seconds on the clock. Holloway made it 101-98 following a layup with 11 seconds left. Chestnut drew a foul on the next Staten Island possession and went 2-of-2 from the line to give the Dolphins the 103-98 win.

Rowbatham led the Mavericks with a career-high 32 points, hitting 15-of-23 field goals. Holloway added 23 points and recorded eight rebounds, contributing five assists. Trahan posted 15 points, made two steals, and matched Holloway with six rebounds. Pratt finished with 12 points, converting five of eight shots from the field. Miller had a career-high eight points with three rebounds.

Goldstein led Staten Island with 29 points, shooting 10-of-16 from the field, including three 3-pointers, and converting six of eight free throws. Kone contributed 24 points, connecting on 7-of-14 field goals and 10-of-13 free throws, while also grabbing eight rebounds.

Mercy shot a season-high 60.9 percent (42-of-69) from the floor, 33.3 percent (7-of-21) from downtown and 41.2 percent (7-of-17) from the foul line. Staten Island shot 47.4 percent (36-of-76) from the field, 35.7 percent (10-of-28) from beyond the arc and 72.4 percent (21-of-29) from the charity stripe. Staten Island held a 42-31 edge on the glass. The 60.9 percent shooting by Mercy is the highest percentage shot by an ECC team this season. The 60.9 percent shooting for the Mavericks is their highest percentage shot since they shot 63.9 percent against Salem International on November 25, 2014.

Head Coach Charles Marquardt and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, January 21st when they host Queens at 7 p.m.