The Misericordia men's basketball team defeated Susquehanna 67-60 Tuesday night in a rematch of the teams' first round faceoff at the White Rose City Classic last month.

 

This is the second time in as many games that the Cougars avenged tournament losses. They defeated Laurel Line victors Marywood on the road over the weekend.

 

Vinny Baumunk led the Cougar offense with 22 points after posting just 10 in the teams' first meeting. The Cougars led by as much as eight in the second half, but Baumunk's 12 second-half points kept the team running.

 

Four of the team's five starters reached double digits. Marcus Little, Robbie Johnson and Dom Del Prete checked in at 11, 10 and 10 points, respectively.

 

A 12-2 run in the midst of the first quarter made the Cougars favorites as the clock ticked toward halftime, but the Crusaders were persistent. Joel Patch shot 4-for-5 in the first half to help his team cling closely to the Cougars, but Misericordia led 33-28 at halftime.

 

The second half would have been all Cougars were it not for the long ball skills of the Crusaders. They shot 5-for-11 in the second half, and 8-for-18 in the game, from beyond the arc.

 

Patch led the Crusader offense with 13 points. Brian Kerwin scored 12, and Spenser Spencer added 10. Kerwin was a perfect 4-for-4 in 3-pointers.

 

The Cougars played tight in the paint and out-rebounded their foes 33-25. Baumunk led with 10 boards; Del Prete added six. Zach Sensenig led the team with four steals.

 

The Cougars host DeSales Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in their first conference game of the season.