Despite shooting 15-28 from three-point range, the Misericordia University men's basketball team dropped a tough 90-85 decision to Wilkes, Saturday afternoon in the Anderson Center.

Jason Kenny led MU with 23 points, including 19 in the second half, and D.J. Marlow had 15 points in the first half on five three-pointers.

James Hawk scored three straight buckets early in the first half and finished with 15 points on 6-8 shooting and Griffin Sponaugle added 11 points.

Kenny had seven assists and Erik Kerns had eight points, six rebounds and six assists.

Hawk scored on MU's first two possessions and the Cougars led for the first 30 minutes of the game.

After building a 34-16 lead with 8:19 to go in the first half, the Cougars took a 46-40 advantage into halftime thanks to Tanner Reyan's three-pointer from the left corner with 2.2 seconds remaining.

Sponaugle drained a deep three-pointer from the left wing and Kenny's driving layup gave the Cougars a 56-48 lead five minutes into the second half.

Wilkes' Marcus Robinson hit three three-pointers and converted a rare four-point play over the next three minutes as the Colonels pulled within 63-62 with 12:14 to play.

Tyler McGarry drilled a three-pointer from the left wing, but Wilkes answered with an 8-0 run and led for the first time, 70-66, with 7:16 to go.

Kerns buried a three-pointer from the right win to put the Cougars back in front, 79-77, with 3:38 remaining.

Wilkes answered with a three-pointer, Kenny's floater in the lane put the Cougars in front for the final time, 81-80, with 3:07 left.

Down 86-81 with less than two minutes to go, Sponaugle splashed a rainbow three-pointer and Kenny added a free throw to get within a point with 1:15 on the clock.

Robinson sank a jumper with just under a minute to play and the Colonels added a pair of free throws to seal the win.

The Cougars dumped the ball inside early and Hawk responded with five buckets in the first five minutes for a quick 15-7 lead.

Marlow came off the bench and hit four three-pointers in six minutes as the Cougars opened up a 34-16 lead with 8:19 left in the first half.

Wilkes used a 13-3 run to pull within three points late in the half before Reyan's big shot to end the first half.

The Colonels moved into third place in the MAC Freedom at 11-10 (6-4) while the Cougars are tied for fourth at 11-10 (5-5).

MU will travel to Delaware Valley, Wednesday.