Jeff Slanovec drained four three-pointers as the Misericordia University men's basketball team grabbed a big 63-58 road victory over defending Freedom Conference champion DeSales, Wednesday night in Billera Hall.

Slanovec finished with 12 points while junior Ethan Eichhorst had 22 points and eight rebounds. New transfer Steve Artzerounian also had a big effort with 16 points and eight boards.

Eichhorst drained a three-pointer with 3:57 left in the game to give MU a 10-point advantage, but DeSales went on a quick 5-0 run to pull back within two possessions. Steve Artzerounian then followed up a missed shot with a leaping tap-in, pushing the Cougar lead to 57-50.

DSU made one more push in the final minute however, sandwiching a Cougar turnover with a pair of baskets that made the score 59-56 MU. After a missed lay-up, the Bulldogs took possession with a chance to tie.

The hosts couldn't connect on two three-point attempts though, and Eichhorst scored at the other end to put the game out of reach.

The Cougars had jumped out to an early lead, holding the Bulldogs to just two points over the first 9:53 of action.

After Frank Nutt drew a charge, Slanovec came down the floor and ripped a 25-footer that opened the scoring. Sean Bieski leapt for a tap-in that made it 5-0 Misericordia, and Nutt converted a tough left-handed lay-in before another bomb from Slanovec pushed the early MU lead to 10-2.

Later in the first half, Eichhorst swished a jumper to go up 15-8 and then finished off a lay-in after Slanovec pump-faked a three-pointer and hit him with a laser bounce pass, as MU took a 17-8 advantage.

DeSales hit a quick pair of three-pointers late in the half to cut the MU lead to three and force the Cougars to take a time-out. Misericordia recovered however and five Steve Artzerounian points in the final minute allowed them to go into the break up 26-21.

Senior Robbie Johnson entered the game needing 14 points to reach 1,000 for his career. The captain struggled, going scoreless in the first half, but did chip in with a team-high five assists.

Johnson got on the board just after halftime with a jumper from the lane that put MU up by seven. He finished the game just 11 points shy of the milestone mark.

Slanovec was still on fire after halftime, draining two more long three-pointers to put Misericordia up 36-28.

Eichhorst's fast break dunk soon made it 38-30 MU. Midway through the half, Scott Huddle grabbed two offensive boards on the same possession, first keeping the ball alive with a great hustle play and then finishing a put-back stretched Misericordia's lead to nine.

DeSales tried to rally but Eichhorst hit a huge three from the corner to take a 46-37 lead with under seven minutes to play. He then answered a DSU three-point play with a basket from the left side.

Misericordia improves to 9-6, 2-2 with the win and will host Manhattanville, Saturday at 3 PM.

Game Highlights: