The Misericordia men's basketball team handed King's its fifth consecutive loss Wednesday night with a 66-54 victory at the Anderson Center. The meeting was the first between the two teams as Freedom Conference opponents.

 

Dom Del Prete had a stellar night capped by his season-best 28 points. Del Prete shot 10-for-17 and 5-for-9 from beyond the arc. His 14 points in the first half are what made it possible for the Cougars to head to the locker room with a 32-32 tie.

 

Del Prete started the game with a 3-pointer, and Robbie Johnson followed with a field goal to set the Cougars confidence level to high.

 

They led by as much as eight points in the half after running the game at 10-2.

 

But the Monarchs fought back. Chase McGowan and Kevin Conroy scored nine and eight, respectively, to keep them in the game.

 

In the second half, the Cougars played fiercely. Del Prete started the attack with a lay-up, followed by a monster dunk by Vinny Baumunk. Del Prete and Johnson rained back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers to cap a 13-4 run that put the Cougars up 45-36.

 

The team never surrendered the lead and led by as much as 17 points in the half. The 66-54 final gave the Cougars their first ever Freedom win.

 

Del Prete's 28 led the team in scoring. Jeff Slanovec followed with 11 off the bench after shooting 4-for-8 and 3-for-6 from beyond the arc.

 

Ethan Eichhorst led with nine rebounds. Vinny Baumunk added seven.

 

McGowan finished with 13 points and six rebounds for the Monarchs. Conroy was close behind in scoring with 12.

 

The Cougars are now 6-3 (1-1). They head to the Moravian Tournament Jan. 3, and play Moravian in the opening round.