Despite a game-high 25 points from Robbie Johnson and a furious second-half rally, the Misericordia University men's basketball team dropped its second straight game, 76-74, to Susquehanna, Monday night at the Anderson Center.

Jeff Slanovec had 14 points for the Cougars and Sean Bieski added 11.

Susquehanna ended the first half on a 19-2 run to take a 42-32 lead into halftime and maintained a lead throughout the second half.

Frank Nutt's three-point got MU within 59-55 with 9:11 to play, but the Crusaders quickly stretched the lead back to double-digits, 69-57.

Trailing 71-60 with 5:45 to play, the Cougars used an 8-0 spurt to cut the deficit to 71-68 with 3:31 to go.

Bieski sank a short jumper and Johnson made a pair of free throws to make it 71-64.

Ethan Eichhorst threaded a pass to a driving Johnson for a layup to make it 71-66 and Bieski converted a pair of foul shots to cut it to 71-68.

After a Crusaders bucket, Johnson's jumper made it 73-70 and he followed with a nifty left-handed layup to make it 73-72 with 1:15 to play.

Susquehanna went ahead 75-72 before two more free throws from Bieski to get within 75-74 with under a minute to play.

Billy Artzerounian came up with a huge steal near midcourt to give MU a chance to win, but their three-point attempt was short and the Crusaders grabbed the loose ball and converted a free throw with no time left on the clock.

After exchanging buckets over the first 10 minutes, MU used a 10-4 run to take a 30-23 lead with 8:17 to play in the first half.

After a short jumper by Bieski, Chris Undersinger drained a pair of three-pointers to give MU its largest lead.

With Bieski and Eichhorst on the bench in foul trouble, the Cougars only managed a Johnson layup the rest of the way as Susquehanna closed the half on 19-2 run.

MU, 5-2, will travel to Albright, Wednesday.