Box Score The Misericordia University men's basketball team held Lebanon Valley to just 15  points and 19 percent shooting in the second half as the Cougars overcame a halftime deficit to defeat the Dutchmen 61-57 on Sunday afternoon at the LVC Gymnasium.

Steve Ware led three players in double figures with 15 points and seven rebounds while Cael Evans just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. Joe Busacca also added 10 points for the Cougars.

The Cougars got off to a hot start, jumping out to a 17-7 lead just five minutes in that was sparked by a pair of Anthony Sergio three-pointers.

Lebanon Valley wouldn't be deterred, using their own hot shooting to work their way back into the game. A Kevin Agnew three tied the game at 24-24 with 8:12 remaining in the period and the Dutchmen used a 12-4 run to take their largest lead of the game at 36-28 with 4:33 remaining.

A Travis Buckner three-point play closed the gap to 40-38, but LVC's Danny Brooks would hit a jumper on the ensuing possession to give the Dutchmen a 42-38 halftime lead.

Both teams shot well during the first half with the Dutchmen (64%) holding a slight edge over the Cougars (63%).

While the first half was a display of offense, the second half quickly became a display of defense. After Ware scored six of the Cougars' first eight points of the half to tie the game at 46-46, neither team scored for more than a three minute period.

The teams traded baskets to tie the game at 53-53 with just 4:08 remaining, but an Evans put-back layup and a huge three by Travis Buckner on back-to-back possessions gave MU a 58-53 lead that they would never lose.

Kyler Burke hit a three on LVC's next possession to close the gap to 58-56 with 2:41 to play, but a Ware free throw followed by an emphatic Ware dunk extended the Cougar lead back to 61-56 as MU held on for the victory.

Brooks led the Dutchmen with 15 points and nine rebounds while Matt O'Brien and Agnew added 14 and 10, respectively.

The Cougars will return to action on Tuesday when they host Pitt-Greensburg at 5:00 PM.