Box Score The Misericordia University men's basketball team was on the short end of a 12-2 run to end the game in a 68-60 loss at DeSales, Saturday.

Leading 58-56 with just under three minutes to play, the Cougars were limited to two free throws the rest of the way.

MU fell to 12-9 overall and is locked in a four-way for second place at 6-4 in the Freedom Conference.

Steve Ware led the Cougars with 20 points and nine rebounds while Joe Busacca added 16 points.

Erik Kerns had 12 points and eight rebounds.

Trailing 50-41 midway through the second half, the Cougars rallied to take a 58-tie the score with under five minutes remaining.

Kerns converted a three-point play as part of five straight points in a one-minute span to get MU within 50-46 with 9:33 to go.

A layup from Kerns and back-to-back buckets by Ware pulled the Cougars to within two at 54-52.

After a DeSales' basket, Joe Busacca answered with a layup and Ware followed with two more layups to take a 58-56 lead at 2:55.

Griffin Sponaugle made two free throws with 1:37 to go, but the Cougars didn't score again.

DeSales built an 18-9 lead midway through the first half, but MU responded with an 11-2 spurt to tie the score, 20-20, four minutes later.

Pat Widdoss started the run with a layup and Kerns converted another three-point play.

After two foul shots from Busacca, Ware and Busacca made layups to pull the Cougars even with 7:10 to play.

Kerns made two free throws and Busacca added another layup as the Cougars scored the final four points of the half to take a 31-27 lead.

Misericordia will host Eastern, Wednesday.