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Men's Basketball

Game Preview: Men's Basketball Faces Holy Family and Chestnut Hill This Weekend

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Mercy University Men's Basketball Team plays at Holy Family University on Friday, November 13th at 7:30 p.m. and faces Chestnut Hill College on Saturday, November 14th at 5:30 p.m. at Holy Family.

Who, When and Where

Date/Time: Friday, November 13th 7:30 p.m.

Records: Mercy (1-0), Holy Family (0-0)

Location: Philadelphia, Pa.

 

Date/Time: Saturday, November 14th 5:30 p.m.

Records: Mercy (1-0), Chestnut Hill (0-1)

Location: Philadelphia, Pa.

Last Meeting vs. Holy Family

Mercy dropped a 96-85 decision against Holy Family on November 14, 2025.

Last Meeting vs. Chestnut Hill

Mercy dropped an 80-66 decision to Chestnut Hill on November 22, 2025.

Scouting the Mavericks

The Mavericks opened their 2026-27 season with a 55-51 win at Pace. Mercy defeated Pace for the first time since 1997 and won their season opener for the first time since 2017. The Mavericks look to start 2-0 and 3-0 for the first time since 2014.

Mercy has been led by graduate student Matthew Filipowski who recorded a double-double by way of a career-high 20 points and 12 rebounds at Pace. Junior Kohen Rowbatham scored a game-high 21 points in the win on Tuesday and senior Jordan Trahan had eight points and three steals. Freshmen Kem Dankyi and Seediya Jabbi both had two points and sophomore Tyrell Miller added two points in the win.

Mercy enters the 2026-27 season picked eighth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 3-23 last season. The Mavericks are looking to make the ECC Championship for the first time since 2021 and make it for the first time without every team making it since 2016.

Second-year Head Coach Charles Marquardt and the Mavericks return five student-athletes from last year's team and add 11 newcomers. Leading the returners is junior Kohen Rowbatham who was named Third Team All-ECC and MBWA All-Met Honorable Mention after averaging a team-high 20.5 points and 2.7 assists per game last season. Rowbatham ranked second in the ECC in points per game. Also, returning is senior Jordan Trahan who averaged 15.5 points per game and a team-high 6.4 rebounds per game last year. Sophomore Tyrell Miller returns after averaging 2.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and a team-high 2.0 blocks per game. Junior James Connolly is back after posting 2.6 points per game and senior Daniel Boateng returns after playing in 23 games with 1.8 points per game.

Mercy also welcomes four transfers and seven freshmen. Junior Jaden Battle joins the Mavericks from Roberts Wesleyan University and Merrimack College. Battle played in 21 games last season at Roberts Wesleyan, averaging 5.5 points per game, helping lead the Redhawks to the ECC Championship Final. Junior Yunosuke Matsuda joins the Mavericks from Northern Essex Community College where he was named Region 21 Honorable Mention and won the Region Championship twice. Matsuda averaged 6.8 points and 3.9 assists per game with Northern Essex last season. Junior Said Adam joins Mercy from Genesee Community College where he averaged 12.0 points and 10.6 rebounds per game last season. Graduate student Matthew Filipowski comes from Division I Harvard University where he played five games during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.

The Mavericks also welcome freshmen Brennan White, Karon Bailey, Kem Dankyi, Seediya Jabbi, Amosun Toluwalase, and Maks Mazzoni. White joins Mercy from Metairie Park Country Day School where he was named First Team All-District, and State Championship MVP as a senior. Bailey comes from St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Maryland where he earned All-MAC honors as a senior. Dankyi joins the Mavericks from St. Vincent Pallotti High School in Maryland where he received All-Conference and Team MVP honors as a senior while scoring over 1,000 career points. Jabbi was named All-Section and All-League as a senior at the Barack Obama School for Social Justice. Toluwalase was a varsity player at Holy Cross High School for four years and Mazzoni joins the Mavericks from Slovenia.

Mercy looks to win their season opener for the first time since 2017. The Mavericks look to beat Pace for the first time since 1997.

Scouting the Tigers

Holy Family was picked seventh in the CACC Preseason Poll after going 13-16 last season, qualifying for the CACC Championship. Leading the returners for the Tigers is Najee Coursey who averaged a team-high 12.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game last season. Matt Gardler also returns after averaging 11.9 points and a team-high 3.6 assists per game. Di'Andre Howell-South is back after posting 10.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

Scouting the Griffins

Chestnut Hill opened their 2026-27 season with an 87-58 loss at RV Saint Michael's on Monday. The Griffins will face AIC on Friday before facing Mercy on Saturday. Chestnut Hill was picked 10th in the CACC Preseason Poll after going 8-19 last season. The Griffins have been led by Amari Dow who scored a team-high 18 points and had a team-high seven rebounds on Monday. Bralyn Smith recorded 11 points, and Camden Burns had eight points and four assists.  

Next Game

Mercy resumes action on Wednesday, November 18th when they play at Felician at 7:30 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Daniel Boateng

#5 Daniel Boateng

F
6' 6"
Senior
James  Connolly

#11 James Connolly

G
6' 4"
Junior
Tyrell Miller

#13 Tyrell Miller

F/C
6' 7"
Sophomore
Kohen Rowbatham

#22 Kohen Rowbatham

G
6' 1"
Junior
Jordan  Trahan

#21 Jordan Trahan

G
6' 5"
Senior
Said Adam

#44 Said Adam

F
6' 6"
Junior
Karon Bailey

#2 Karon Bailey

G
6' 0"
Freshman
Jaden Battle

#8 Jaden Battle

G
6' 1"
Junior
Kem Dankyi

#7 Kem Dankyi

G
6' 3"
Freshman
Matthew Filipowski

#54 Matthew Filipowski

C
7' 0"
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Daniel Boateng

#5 Daniel Boateng

6' 6"
Senior
F
James  Connolly

#11 James Connolly

6' 4"
Junior
G
Tyrell Miller

#13 Tyrell Miller

6' 7"
Sophomore
F/C
Kohen Rowbatham

#22 Kohen Rowbatham

6' 1"
Junior
G
Jordan  Trahan

#21 Jordan Trahan

6' 5"
Senior
G
Said Adam

#44 Said Adam

6' 6"
Junior
F
Karon Bailey

#2 Karon Bailey

6' 0"
Freshman
G
Jaden Battle

#8 Jaden Battle

6' 1"
Junior
G
Kem Dankyi

#7 Kem Dankyi

6' 3"
Freshman
G
Matthew Filipowski

#54 Matthew Filipowski

7' 0"
Graduate Student
C