Dallas, PA (January 11, 2020)- Men's Basketball records its first Middle Atlantic Freedom Conference victory of the season defeating Misericordia University on Saturday afternoon, 74-70. With the win, FDU improves to 6-7 (1-1) on the season while the Cougars fall to 5-8 (1-1).

FIRST HALF
FDU grabbed the lead one minute into the game, scoring on a freshman Andrew Shulz three-point bucket. Back and forth play would ensue for the next 8-minutes, when Junior Oliver Ortman nailed a layup in the paint with 12:03 remaining in the half to grab a 15-12 lead. FDU would build its lead to as much as six, 30-24 with 3:22 left in the half. The Cougars would continue to fight, bringing the lead to 30-29 at the 1:20 mark thanks to a 5-0 run. Ortman had the immediate answer, knocking down a three-pointer :20 seconds later. FDU took a 33-30 lead into the halftime break.  

SECOND HALF
Misericordia opened the second half scoring with six of the first 10 points to tie the game 37-37 at the 17:18 mark. Senior Kenneth LaRocca would have the answer for FDU, scoring a layup to regain the lead. Another bucket from the Cougars tied the game, before Shulz hit from beyond the arc again, giving the Devils a 42-39 lead. Senior Andy Fleurantin knocked down three buckets and Freshman Joseph Nigro and LaRocca both hit threes to increase the Devils lead to eight, 53-45 at 11:27 mark, their largest lead of the game.

The lead would stay between four and seven for the Devils over the next five minutes, before the Cougars Jake Bartholomew cut it to two, 58-56 with 7:49 remaining. Fleurantin hit two threes to increase the lead to six, 64-58 at the 4:24 mark, before Misericordia went on a small run. The Cougars would score six straight points to tie the game at 65-65 for the first time since the early parts of the first half. FDU answered again, scoring 9 of the game's final 14 points thanks to five points from Fleurantin and four points from LaRocca. The Devils secured the 74-70 victory.

LEAD DEVIL
Fleurantin finished the game with 27 points on 9-of-14 (64%) from the field and 3-5 (60%) from beyond the arc. He also added four rebounds and four assists. This is the fifth time this season Fleurantin has finished with 20 or more points and the third time finishing with 25 or more points.

DOING THEIR PART
Both LaRocca and Ortman came up big for the Devils in this contest ending the day with 18 and 16 points respectively. LaRocca finished 7-of-13 (54%) from the field while Ortman ended with three made three-pointers and six rebounds.  

CAREER HIGH
Nigro recorded career highs in rebounds (9) and minutes played (32).  

MOVING THE BALL
FDU finished the contest with 13 total assists having six players record at least one assist and four record two or more.

FROM COACH
"What an important win for us to get a split of two road games to start conference play. So many guys stepped up and made big shots, rebounds and defensive reads late to help us seal it. Our guys are embracing the process of getting better every day and that's exciting as we have 5 of our next 7 at home." – Head Coach Jeff Slanovec

UP NEXT
FDU returns home to the Ferguson Recreation Center to play host to MAC Freedom opponent Eastern University on Wednesday, January 15 at 6:00 p.m.