The Misericordia University men's basketball team opened its MAC Freedom schedule with a heartbreaking 71-70 loss at FDU-Florham, Wednesday.

The Cougar rallied from a 17-point first-half deficit to take a 70-69 lead, but FDU pulled out the win with a catch-and-shoot rebound bucket as time expired.

D.J. Marlow had a team-high 16 points to lead four Cougars in double figures.

Jason Kenny had 14 points and Griffin Sponaugle added 12 while James Hawk had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Down 37-27 at halftime, the Cougars scored the first five points of the second half to get within 37-32.

FDU-Florham answered with a 7-0 run, but Marlow, Kenny and Sponaugle combined for six straight points to make it 44-38 with 14:16 to play.

Marlow had a layup and two free throws to cut the margin to 46-42.

Following an FDU three-pointer, Erik Kerns sank a jumper off a steal by Tyler McGarry and Earl Chang's layup sliced the deficit to 49-46.

FDU went back in front by eight, 62-54, but a Sponaugle layup and Hawk's dunk made it 62-58 with 5:56 remaining.

Sponaugle followed with two free throws and Marlow's driving layup tied it, 62-62, with 4:50 left.

Hawk's putback gave the Cougars their first lead since the opening minutes, 64-62.

After the Devils tied it, Kenny made two free throws for a 66-64 lead.

Trailing 67-66, Sponaugle put the Cougars back in front, 68-67, with two free throws with 32 seconds to go.

FDU went up 69-68 off a steal and layup, but Marlow answered with two free throws for a 70-69 lead with nine seconds to play.

Off a reset with 2.8 remaining, the Devils missed an off-balance baseline jumper, but Veon Lassiter was able to catch-and-shoot for the game-winner.

The Cougars scored the game's first four points on a Sponaugle layup and Hawk's dunk, but the Devils quickly responded with an 11-0 run.

Chang's three-pointer made it 11-7, but the Devils scored nine straight points for a 20-7 lead.

Kenny converted a three-point play and followed with another free throw to cut the margin to 24-14.

After FDU took a 33-16 lead, Jalen Armstead answered with a jumper and Kenny took a steal coast-to-coast to pull within 33-20.

The Devils went up 37-20, but Kerns responded with a three-pointer and the Cougars closed the half on a 7-0 run to get within 10, 37-27, at halftime.

MU, 3-5, will host DeSales, Saturday.