Jason Kenny had another big night to lead the Misericordia University men's basketball team to an 81-69 non-conference win over Utica, Monday night at the Anderson Center.
Kenny had 16 of his-team high 24 points in the second half to lead three Cougars in double figures.
Griffin Sponaugle added 21 points and five assists and
James Hawk a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
MU led 43-28 at halftime and stretched the lead to 19 points six minutes into the second half.
The Pioneers sliced the deficit to 64-57 with 7:41 to play, but the Kenny and Hawk combined for 11 points to put MU back up by 14 with 2:07 to go.
Kenny took a steal coast-to-coast and Hawk threw down a putback for a 68-57 lead.
After Kenny took another steal the length of the floor, Sponaugle made two free throws for a 74-61 lead.
Kenny buried a three-pointer from the left wing for a 77-61 advantage with 2:07 to play.
The Cougars came out of intermission and quickly extended their lead on a three-pointer by Sponaugle and a driving layup by Kenny.
Layups by Hawk and Kenny and a free from Kerns gave the Cougars a 57-38 lead before the Pioneers mounted their rally.
In the opening minutes,
D.J. Marlow found Kenny on an inbounds play for a three-pointer and a Sponaugle knocked down a 10-foot jumper for a 9-3 lead.
Utica rallied to take a 15-14 lead midway through the first half, but Sponaugle drained a three-pointer from the left wing to put the Cougars back in front, 17-14.
Up 19-17, Marlow sank a jumper from the right elbow to ignite a 12-0 run.
Sponaugle found Hawk underneath for a reverse layup and Kenny drove the right side of the lane to make it 25-17.
John Murphy came off the bench to score three straight buckets for a 31-17 lead with 6:10 to play.
Sponaugle drained a three-pointer from the right win off an inbounds pass from
Alec Rodway for a 40-26 lead and Kenny closed out the half with a three from the right corner to put MU up 43-28.
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Misericordia, 5-5, will close out first semester action at Montclair, Saturday.
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