Seven in Double Figures Lead Ninth-Ranked Men's Basketball Past Mercy, 105-43
Box Score
DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Dec. 10, 2008) - The Pioneers, ranked ninth in the latest NABC poll, used a 67-12 run that lasted from the 10:21 mark in the first half, until 8:51 in the second half, turning a 23-15 defecit into a 105-43 win over the Mavericks of Mercy College in men's basketball action on Wednesday evening. The margin of victory, 62 points, is the largest for the Pioneers since December 30, 1992, when they defeated Molloy by a score of 104-40.
The Pioneers remain undefeated with a 5-0 record overall and a 3-0 slate in the ECC. Mercy College slips to 0-6 and 0-3 in conference play.
The Mavericks came out firing on all cylinders, and the Pioneers found themselves down 10-4 just four minutes into the game, following a layup by Justin McMullen. The Pioneers pulled to within one, 10-9, after senior guard Jonathan Schmidt (Centereach, N.Y.) hit an and-one, completing a three-point play at the 14:40 mark in the first half. But the Mavericks reeled off six straigh points and held a 16-9 advantage with 12:53 to go in the half.
Mercy took advantage of two back-to back Pioneer miscues to push their lead to eight points, leading 23-13 after a made layup by Kortney Parker. But from the 10:21 mark, and for the rest of the game, it was all Pioneers. Senior Kenny Burkes (Suitland, Md.) converted a three point play to pull to 23-18, and Nick Carter (Huntington Station, N.Y.) hit a trey to cut the lead to two, 23-21 with 7:59 remaining.
A Gilbert Montalvo (Astoria, N.Y.) trey gave the Pioneers the lead, 24-23, and a jumper by Schmidt and another trey by Montalvo gave them a 29-25 advantage.
CWP reeled off another 18 points and strong pressure defense allowed only three more Maverick points to head into the half, with the Pioneers leading by 18, 47-29.
The second half belonged entirely to the Pioneers as they outscored the Mavericks 58-14 in the frame, leading by as many as 64 points with two minutes to play.
Kevin Spann (West Babylon, N.Y.) led the way with 21 points off of 9-of-15 shooting from the floor, and three treys. Burkes was right behind him with 20 points, three assists, and six steals. Schmidt, Carter, and junior Roberto Macklin (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) each scored 13 points apiece, with Macklin and Carter each grabbing three steals and Schmidt adding six assists.. Montalvo scored 11 points, including three treys, and added a team-high seven assists. Lyndon Daniel (St. George's, Grenada) had an excellent defensive game, notching a double double with 10 points and 18 boards, also blocking a shot.
The Mavericks were led by Brown's 10 point effort.
For the game, the Pioneers scored 46 points in the paint compared to Mercy's 18, and took advantage of Maverick miscues, holding a 47-19 advantage in points off turnovers.
The Pioneers have a nine-day break, next hosting Post University on Friday, Dec. 19 in a 7 p.m. matchup at the Pratt Recreation Center.