OAKDALE, N.Y.-  Five Golden Lions finish in double figures but Mercy College held on for a 72-71 win this evening at Dowling Gymnasium.  The Dowling College men’s basketball team slides to 8-10 on the season, 6-5 in East Coast Conference play.  The Mavericks improve to 7-10 overall, 2-9 ECC.
 
Freshman Tristan Brown led the Golden Lion offence with 18 points as junior Evan Maxwell finished with 13 points.  Sophomore Michael Guzzardi came away with a double double of 13 points and 12 rebounds with sophomore Ryan Hickey pitching in with 12 points.  Junior Armand Correa came off the bench and finished with 11 points.
 
Mercy had three finish with 16 points with Gerald McCleasde coming off the bench with a double double of 16 points and 12 boards.
 
The Golden Lions led early in the opening frame, but a layup from Lazaro Martinez put the Mavericks ahead 22-21 where they would remain for the remainder of the game.   Mercy stretched their lead to as many as 14 points with 13:25 left in the second half, but the Golden Lions chipped away bringing their deficit back to single digits, 57-48, following a Correa layup with just under 11 minutes left on the clock.  Both sides traded baskets with the Golden Lions staying close and Hickey’s layup with 1:48 left put Dowling within one, 68-67.  Mercy would go up by five, 72-67, but free throws from Guzzardi and a tip in from Donte Adams brought the Golden Lions back within one, 72-71, but DC’s final shot fell short as they Mavericks came away with the ECC win.

The Golden Lions return to action as they travel to St. Thomas Aquinas College Saturday, January 31^st.  Game time is set for 3:00 PM.