DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Delaware Valley College junior Jeremy Beckett scored 26 points and reached the 1,000-point plateau for his career, but it was hot-shooting Misericodia University that dominated the afternoon with an 86-66, Freedom Conference victory.
The win was Misericordia's eighth straight as the Cougars remained atop the standings with a 17-6 overall record and a 9-3 mark in the Freedom. The Aggies, who had knocked off a pair of first-place teams on back-to-back Saturdays, fell to 6-17 overall and 3-8 in the conference.
Beckett became the 18th player in Delaware Valley men's basketball history to hit the milestone. He scored 19 of his points in the second half, including a long jumper with 1:45 remaining for points number 999 and 1,000. He added 11 rebounds and four blocks on the afternoon.
However, the game belong to Misericordia as the Cougars shot 63 percent from the field in the first half (71.4 percent from 3-point land) and finished at 56.7 percent with a 34-for-60 showing. They held a 44-29 advantage on the boards and notched 28 assists on their 34 buckets.
Misericordia hit a trio of 3-pointers, two by Chris Undersinger, in the opening eight minutes, en route to an 18-9 lead. Delaware Valley fought back and used a 13-4 spurt to tie the game with 7:56 to go, but the Cougars answered with 12 of the next 14, including five each from Matt Greene and Jeff Slanovec, for a 34-24 lead. They eventually took a 42-27 advantage into the break.
Delaware Valley never got closer than 13 points in the second half, as Misericordia had an answer each time. Steve Artzerounian led the Cougars with 24 points and 14 rebounds. Ethan Eichhorst had 21 points, six rebounds and five assists while Greene hit four treys and finished with 16 points and six assists. Slanovec and Joe Busacha dished out seven assists apiece with Slanovec also adding 10 points.
Nathan Bollinger finished with 19 points and four assists for Delaware Valley. Daulton Derr hit double digits as well with 11 points.