The Misericordia University men's basketball team used a big second half to defeat Rutgers-Newark, 78-58, Monday.

Jason Kenny led four Cougars in double figures with 21 points while James Hawk added 13 points.  Griffin Sponaugle and Tony Harding both had 12 points as the Cougars improved to 6-1.

The Cougars led 37-36 at halftime, but pulled away with an 18-2 run midway through the second half.

Hawk started the run with a layup and Kenny followed with back-to-back three-pointers to put MU ahead, 58-45.

Hawk converted a three-point play and Tre Fields added a layup for a 63-47 lead with 9:46 to play.

Alec Rodway drilled a three-pointer and Hawk ended the run with a layup for a 68-47 lead with 8:27 to go and Rutgers-Newark never got closer than 16 points the rest of the way.

The Cougars trailed 18-10 early in the first half, but Noah Rivera found Stone McCreary on the drive and then made a free throw to give the Cougars their first lead, 27-26, with 4:02 left in the first half.

Sponaugle hit two three-pointers and Harding added one to put the Cougars up, 37-33, late in the first half.

The Cougars will visit St. Joe's (Long Island), Thursday.