The Cougars shot 56% in the second half as the Misericordia University men's basketball team defeated FDU-Florham 79-63, Saturday in Madison, NJ.

Junior Jeff Slanovec was 6-of-12 and turned in game-highs for points (21) and rebounds (eight). Senior Robbie Johnson had 17 points and three steals. Ethan Eichhorst (15 points) also contributed, and power forward Stephen Artzerounian had 10 points in his first start of the year.

Sean Bieski's lay-in with 8:34 remaining put MU up 61-47, the largest lead of the game up to that point. With FDU fighting to reduce the deficit, Eichhorst canned a huge three-pointer from the corner to keep his team ahead by 13.

The Devils kept themselves in the game late with five straight points to cut the Cougar lead to 69-62. Eichhorst held FDU at bay with a pair of free throws and Slanovec delivered the knockout blow with a three-pointer that put MU up 74-62.

An 8-2 FDU-Florham run early in the half had put the hosts up 42-40. Johnson answered with a tough drive and then jumped a passing lane for the fast break bucket and a Cougar lead.

Slanovec then found Eichhorst with a cross court pass for the easy bucket. Steve Artzerounian finished off a 10-0 Misericordia run with a basket.

In the first half, Matt Greene got the Cougars started with a three and Johnson's three-point play gave MU its first lead of the day at 8-7.

Slanovec was on fire midway through the first period, hitting from downtown on three straight possessions to give Misericordia a 19-15 lead.

After Bieski's jumper made it 21-15, the Devils rallied with an 8-0 run to go back in front. Eichhorst broke the Cougar slump with a nice spin move in the post and another three from Greene put MU up 26-23.

With 2:09 left before halftime, Slanovec dropped yet another triple to put Misericordia up 34-31. The Cougars led 38-34 at the break after a pair of Slanovec free throws.

Misericordia improves to 11-7 overall and 4-3 in the Freedom Conference, a game ahead of where the eventual finalists were at last year's midway point. The Cougars host first-place Delaware Valley, Saturday.