The Misericordia University men's basketball held off a late charge at FDU-Florham and inched closer to a Freedom Conference playoff berth with a 66-64 win, Saturday afternoon.

Dom Del Prete led the Cougars with 18 points and Mark Williams and Jeff Slanovec added 13 points each.

Robbie Johnson had eight points and five assists and Ethan Eichhorst added seven points and eight rebounds.

Leading 56-55 with 5:20 to play, the Cougars used a 9-2 run to take a 65-57 lead with 2:52 to go.

Del Prete converted a three-point play for a 59-55 lead.

After an FDU free throw, Del Prete turned a pass from Marcus Little and turned it into another three-point play for a 63-56 lead with 3:55 to go.

Following another FDU free throw, Slanovec sank a pair of foul shots for a 65-57.

FDU scored seven straight points to within one with six seconds remaining before Johnson made the first of two free throw with two seconds for the final margin.

Williams scored nine points in a three-minute span, including a three-pointer, to give MU a 17-7 lead midway through the first half.

Del Prete added two free throws as the Cougars took their largest lead, 19-7, with 10:15 to go in the opening half.

FDU eventually battled back from a seven-point halftime deficit to take a 46-45 lead midway through the second half.

The teams traded baskets for the next five minutes before Del Prete made a free throw gave MU the lead for good, 56-55, with 5:20 remaining.

MU improved to 13-10 and 7-5 in the Freedom and will host King's, Tuesday at 8:00.