The Misericordia University men's basketball team opened its northwest swing with a hard-fought 101-92 overtime loss at Whitman, Tuesday afternoon in Salem, Oregon.

Derek Smith and Nick Hornung scored 17 points each to lead five Cougars in double figures in the loss.  Nate Kreitzer scored 16 points and Kevin Lazdowsky had 15 points nine rebounds and eight assists while Nick Prociak added 11 points.

The Cougars shot 40.5% (15-37) from three-point range, but were out scored 42-20 in the paint.

After a high-scoring first half, the Cougars took a 62-52 lead on Hornung's three-point play with 14:00 remaining in regulation.

Willamette rallied over the next 12 minutes to take an 81-74 lead with 2:14 to play.

Misericordia answered with a 9-0 run to go back in front with less than a minute to go.

Prociak opened the spurt with a layup and Smith hit two free throws before Hornung drained a three-pointer from the left wing to tie the game, 81-81, with 1:26 left.

Lazdowsky put the Cougars back in front, 83-81, with a pair of free throws, but the Bearcats tied it with :41 to go.

Willamette's Ryder Hsiung scored 11 points in the first two minutes of OT as the Bearcats took a 94-86 lead with 2:56 remaining.

Misericordia will play Whitman in Walla Walla, Washington, Thursday.