NYU broke open a close game midway through the second half and never looked back en route to an impressive 84-65 win over Misericordia University in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament, Thursday night in the Coles Center.

Misericordia's Ethan Eichhorst ended his spectacular with a game-high 22 points and Joe Busacca added 17 for the Cougars.

Matt Greene had nine points and six assists for Misericordia who saw its school-record 12-game winning streak snapped to finish 21-7.

Steve Artzerounian opened the second half with a dunk to beat the shot clock and give the Cougars a 39-36 lead.

But, the Violets responded with an 8-0 run to take a 44-39 lead and Artzerounian picked up his fourth foul on the ensuing possession.

Greene drained a three-pointer from the top of the key to MU within 44-42 at 15:51.

After an NYU bucket, Busacca sank two free throws and he answered another Violets' basket with two more free throws to keep it at two, 48-46, with 13:16 to play.

Another 8-0 run by the Violets stretched the lead to 56-46 with 10:57 to play, before a Cael Evans layup and two more Busacca free throws made it 58-50 with 9:03 to go.

With NYU up 60-50, Eichhorst sank two technical foul shots to within 60-52 at 7:13, but that is as close as the Cougars would get.

Eichhorst led the Cougars with 17 points in the first half as the Cougars took a 37-36 lead at intermission.

After missing their first three shots and falling behind, 3-0, Chris Undersinger got the Cougars on the board with a three-pointer from in front of the NYU bench just over three minutes into the game.

Down 11-7 coming out of a timeout, Eichhorst scored six straight points to give the Cougars their first lead, 13-11, with 12:35 to go in the half.

After a short turnaround jumper, he took a nice pass from Joe Busacca to tie it, 11-11, and put MU ahead off a long pass from Matt Greene.

NYU went an 8-0 run to take a 19-13 lead, but Eichhorst responded with a long three-pointer.

Following an NYU three-pointer, Greene buried a three from the corner to keep MU within three, 22-19.

Trailing 24-19, Busacca made two free throws and Eichhorst finished a drive to get within 24-23.

Eichhorst put MU back in front, 25-24, on a fast break feed from Greene and he made it 27-24 with two free throws.

NYU scored eight straight for a 32-27 lead before Cael Evans completed a three-point play to get within two, 32-30.
Busacca followed with two free throws to tie it, 32-32.

After an NYU bucket, Greene drilled his second three-pointer of the half to put the Cougars ahead, 35-34.

Down by one and playing for the last shot, NYU rebounded MU's three-point attempt, but Greene made a steal and found Evans for a layup and a 37-36 lead.