The Misericordia University men's basketball team struggled to one of its lowest offensive out puts of the season in an 87-64 loss to Eastern, Wednesday night in the Anderson Center.

The 64 points was the second-lowest total of the season for the Cougars, who fell to 14-6 overall and 5-4 in the MAC Freedom.

Tony Harding had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Cougars while Tre Fields and Griffin Sponaugle added 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Misericordia shot just 37.9% from the floor in the first half and found themselves trailing 39-26 at intermission.

The Cougars used an 8-0 run to rally early in the second half.

Sponaugle drained a three-pointer from the right corner and Tre Fields found Harding underneath for a layup before Sponaugle connected from the left corner for another trey to get the Cougars within 44-38 with 16:44 to play.

Eastern went on a 7-2 run to go up 51-40 and Harding answered with a layup off a pass from Jason Kenny to cut the deficit to 53-45 with 10:40 remaining.

But, the Eagles scored six straight points and maintained a double digit lead the rest of the way.

Misericordia jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead on a pair of driving layups by Harding and fast break bucket by Fields.

After a Harding layup gave MU a 10-6 lead, Eastern responded with a 19-4 run to take a 25-14 lead midway through the half.

Fields made two of three free throws to ignite a 9-2 MU spurt.  Sponaugle drained Misericordia's only three-pointer of the first half from the left wing and Fields grabbed a defensive rebound and went the length of the floor for a lay in.

Kenny converted a defensive rebound and a steal into a pair of layups at the other end to complete the run and pull MU within 27-25 with 4:28 to go.

But, the Cougars scored only one point the rest of half.

Misericordia will travel to Delaware Valley, Saturday.