DALLAS, Pa. – The Arcadia University men's basketball team led early but was unable to hang on as it fell to host Misericordia University 71-68 Monday night in a non-conference contest. The Cougars improved to 9-4, while the Knights fell to 6-6.
 
Senior forwards Joe Brown and Jose Figueroa traded baskets in the opening minutes as Arcadia scored the first eight points of the game, and the Knights would lead by as many as 12 after sophomore guard Ryan Kelley drained a three that was followed by a Brown layup to make it 23-11 with 7:26 left in the first half. Misericordia would rally from there, closing the period with a 15-6 surge to pull within three at the half, 29-26.
 
Brown made the first bucket of the second half before the Cougars scored six straight points to take their first lead of the game following a layup from sophomore center James Hawk three minutes into the frame. The lead changed hands several times from there before sophomore guard Griffin Sponaugle drained a three to put Misericordia ahead for good with eight minutes to go. That three sparked a 10-2 run for the Cougars that was capped by another Sponaugle three to make it 55-49 with 6:33 to go.
 
Arcadia trailed by seven following senior forward Steven Ware's layup that put Misericordia up 67-60 with 1:30 remaining, but managed to pull back within three after freshman guard Sean Mayberry's layup made it 71-68 with four seconds on the clock.
 
The Knights were forced to foul and senior guard Joe Basacca stepped to the line with a chance to seal the win for the Cougars, but he missed the front end of a one-and-one and Mayberry grabbed the rebound for Arcadia with two seconds left. The Knights were unable to get off a shot following the rebound though as Misericordia held on for the win.
 
Brown finished with a game-high 19 points while pulling down a team-best nine rebounds to lead Arcadia, while Mayberry finished with 10 points, five rebounds and three assists. Senior guard Torrell Candelaria and Figueroa also added 10 points each, while junior guard John Landro chilled in with eight points.
 
Ware also finished with a game-high 19 points to go with a game-high 10 boards to lead the Cougars, while Sponaugle netted 18 points. Busacca also entered double figures in scoring with 14 points while dishing out six assists and grabbing four rebounds.
 
Three-point shooting proved to be the difference-make in this one as Misericordia went 8 for 15 from downtown, while the Knights were 4 of 9 from beyond the arc.
 
Arcadia will look to snap its two-game slide Wednesday when the Knights travel to DeSales University for a 7 p.m. non-conference contest.