The Misericordia University men's basketball team fell 74-60 to a sharp-shooting DeSales team that hit 52% from three-point range, Wednesday night in the Anderson Center.

The Cougars fall to 8-6, 2-2 with the loss. DeSales, the defending Freedom Conference champion, is now 4-0 in league play.

Sophomore Jeff Slanovec led Misericordia with 15 points, just ahead of Dom Del Prete's 14. Ethan Eichhorst led the Cougars with eight rebounds.

An even first half had finished with the Bulldogs leading 30-29. Slanovec scored the Cougars' final seven points of the half, including a pair of three-pointers, but each time DeSales answered with a hoop of their own.

A Mark Leonard steal and fast-break floater put Misericordia up 11-4 early, but DeSales fought back to take a 22-20 advantage. Sean Bieski followed up his own missed three-pointer for a put-back lay-up to tie the game at 22, leading to Slanovec's run of baskets.

After the break, DeSales took control. Shooting 6-of-10 on three pointers in the second half, they opened up a 55-44 lead midway through the period.

Junior Robbie Johnson tried to drag MU back into the game, draining a jumper before his ensuing three-point attempt came agonizingly close before somehow rimming out. On the next Misericordia possession, Johnson found Del Prete for a three-point play, which cut the DeSales lead to six.

Twice more the Cougars fought back to within six, first on a Del Prete fast break and later on a Bieski bucket in the lane. The comeback fizzled out however, and the Bulldogs pulled away with a 14-point victory.

DeSales was led by their first-team All-American Darnell Braswell, who finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore Bob Zanneo had 18 points and shot 4-of-7 from behind the arc.

The Cougars continue Freedom Conference play this Saturday when they travel to Manhattanville.