Senior captain Dom Del Prete (28 points, 15-of-18 from the free throw line) led the Misericordia University men's basketball team to a hard-fought 79-68 victory over Delaware Valley in an extremely physical game that had players from both teams in foul trouble throughout.

The Cougars improve to 8-5 overall and are 2-1 in Freedom Conference play.

Sophomore Ethan Eichhorst (15 points) and junior Robbie Johnson (12 points) were also in double-figures for Misericordia. Freshman Sean Bieski had a team-high eight rebounds.

An already undersized MU squad was playing without starting center Mark Williams, and had to deal with Delaware Valley's 6-7 transfer Darryl White, who came into the game averaging 22 points and 13 rebounds.

The Cougars were able to draw quick fouls on White however, who had nine points in just 19 minutes before fouling out. Backup center Jeremy Beckett had 10 points and five blocks for Delaware Valley, but was also in foul trouble and only played 17 minutes.

With 5:40 to go, Marcus Little drained a three-pointer to put MU up 64-54. The Aggies answered with two quick three-pointers (both by Jason Goldheimer), but a pair of free throws by Del Prete and a fast break hoop by Jeff Slanovec restored an eight-point Misericordia lead.

Delaware Valley again fought back to within four, but Little and Johnson each hit a crucial pair of free throws. A backbreaking steal and lay-in by Johnson with 54 seconds left all but sealed the win.

Earlier in the half, Del Prete had been on the bench with three fouls, allowing Delaware Valley to close to within five points. With just under 14 minutes to go, Del Prete re-entered the game and scored five straight points, putting the Cougars up 51-41.

A slow start for both teams found Delaware Valley up just 9-8 midway through the first half. Then Slanovec put MU ahead with a three-pointer, and the Cougars were off and running.

Junior Mark Leonard converted a tough three-point play on the break to put Misericordia up 16-11, and Johnson stretched the lead to seven with a dazzling crossover move to get to the rim.

Del Prete converted a pair of three-point plays to give MU its largest lead of the half, 31-20. While Delaware Valley answered with six straight points, Bieski stopped the run with a nice up-and-under lay-in and Leonard beat the halftime buzzer with a 30-footer to give the Cougars a 36-26 advantage at the break.

Misericordia will host defending Freedom Conference champion DeSales, Wednesday at 8 PM.