Senior Robbie Johnson scored his 1,000th career point as the Misericordia University men's basketball team defeated Manhattanville 72-58, Saturday in the Anderson Center.

Johnson shot a red-hot 9-of-10 from the field for a game-high 21 points. Junior Ethan Eichhorst had 14 points and six rebounds, while classmate Jeff Slanovec dropped four three-pointers for the second consecutive game and finished with 12 points.

After scoring just three points in a victory over DeSales on Wednesday, Johnson left no doubts as to whether he would reach the 1,000-point plateau against the Valiants. The senior guard came into the game needing 11 and had scored 14 by halftime on 6-of-7 shooting.

Four minutes into the action, Johnson drove hard for a bank shot that gave MU an early 11-4 lead.

Midway through the opening half, Johnson hit a nice scoop shot to stretch Misericordia's lead to eight. Later, a Johnson three pulled him within four of the milestone and gave the Cougars a 24-13 advantage.

By now, the senior was feeling it and kept managing to beat his defenders and get into the lane. His runner with 4:34 left before halftime put the Cougars up 30-13, and he was soon fouled, hitting one free throw to give him 999 points for his career.

The milestone basket came on another isolation drive, as Johnson beat his man and got to the rim for a 35-17 Misericordia lead with 2:12 remaining on the clock.

The Cougars led 41-20 at halftime and ran away with the game early in the second period. After a Slanovec three-pointer, Jerry Reilly hit a tough bank shot in traffic to put MU up 48-22.

An Eichhorst tap-in made it 54-26, and Slanovec drained another trey to stretch the lead to 57-28. The lead went to 31 points on the next possession as Steve Artzerounian made a lay-in off a great pass from Sean Bieski.

With 10:59 remaining senior Scott Huddle hit a baseline jumper to put the Cougars up 61-30 and then came up with a great hustle play, diving on a loose ball and calling timeout.

Reilly, making his first collegiate start in place of injured point guard Matt Greene, got the Cougars off and running in the first half with a three-pointer. Eichhorst beat the shot clock with a tough drive to put Misericordia ahead 21-11, and Chris Undersinger's three-pointer made it 27-13 before Johnson took over late in the half.

Felipe Vargas came off the bench to lead Manhattanville with 13 points, while Trevoy Pointer was in double-figures with 11 points.

The Cougars improve to 10-6, 3-2 and move into second place in the crowded Freedom Conference standings (six teams are currently within a game of .500). MU will host King's, Wednesday at 6 PM.

Game Highlights: