The Misericordia University men's basketball team cashed in on 18 of its 21 free throw attempts in the second half and needed every one to hold off a late Colonel's rally and capture a 79-77 victory at Wilkes University on Saturday afternoon.
 
Griffin Sponaugle poured in 20 points while Joe Busacca added 19 points and five steals. Steve Ware followed with another double-double, posting 15 points, including his 1,000^th career point, and 10 rebounds. Jesse Urich added 12 points in the victory.
 
Wilkes began the game on an 8-0 run, but the Cougars dominated the remainder of the first half, shooting nearly 57 percent from the floor and 46% from beyond the arc to take a 44-24 lead at halftime.
 
However, the Colonels answered with a strong second half, shooting nearly 50 percent from the perimeter, to climb their way back into the game.
 
Wilkes' hot shooting led them on some big runs throughout the second half and eventually cut the MU lead to just two points at 68-64 on a Zachary Brunner layup with 4:12 left in the game.
 
Sponaugle answered for the Cougars, drilling a three-point bucket on the other end, but Alec Wizar added a three of his own for the Colonels' to again make it just a four-point game.
 
Joe Busacca and Steve Ware extended the lead to seven with three free throws, but Wilkes answered with a layup and another Wizar three to make it just a two point game with 26 seconds left.
 
MU was able to inbound the ball to Jesse Urich and Wilkes immediately fouled. Urich knocked down both free throws to make it a four-point game with just 20 seconds left.
 
Wizar then made things interesting with yet another long-range jumper, this time cutting the Cougars lead to just one at 76-75 with 10 seconds left.
 
MU inbounded the ball to Sponaugle and Wilkes again fouled. Sponaugle knocked down the two crucial free throws to make it a three-point game with nine seconds left.
 
The Cougars opted to foul, instead of allowing Wilkes the opportunity to tie the game with a three-point bucket. Tyler Jackson hit both free throws with six seconds left, to cut it to a one-point game at 78-77.
 
The Colonels fouled Busacca as soon as the ball was inbounded and he hit one of his two free throws, allowing Wilkes an opportunity to tie the game, or win it with a last second three pointer.
 
However, the strategy paid off as the Colonels couldn't get a decent look and the Cougars emerged with the 79-77 victory at Wilkes.
 
With the victory the Cougars improve to 16-5 and 8-2 in the Freedom Conference while the Colonels fall to 10-11 and 5-5 in the conference.
 
MU returns to action Wednesday night against Delaware Valley at 8:00 in the Anderson Center.