DALLAS, Pa.—University of Scranton men's basketball coach Carl Danzig learned Wednesday evening that his team has heart.

Playing their first full game with two starters out due to injuries—including senior All-America candidate Ross Danzig (Clarks Green, Pa./Abington Heights/Blair Academy-NJ)—the Royals overcame a 15-point halftime deficit only to drop a 49-44 decision to Misericordia University at the Anderson Sports-Health Center.

Junior forward Brendan Boken (South Pasadena, Calif./Loyola) scored 15 of his game-high 19 points in the second half as the Royals shaved the Cougars' lead down to one twice in the final 90 seconds.  Senior guard Justin Klingman (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) added 11 points for Scranton, which shot less than 37 percent from the field but fought back by holding the Cougars to less than 24 percent shooting.

Misericordia, however, won it at the free throw line, connecting on 25 of 31 attempts to offset its dismal shooting effort.  Senior forward Steve Ware (Lorton, Va./South County) led the Cougars, now 3-0, with 10 points and freshman guard Jacob Battle (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) and senior guard Joe Busacca (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) chipped in eight and seven points, respectively.

The Royals had an opportunity to tie it up after Battle canned two free throws with 17 seconds left, but freshman guard Ethan Danzig (Clarks Green, Pa./Abington Heights) missed a 3-pointer and the Cougars got the rebound and closed out the scoring with a pair of free throws by sophomore guard Jesse Urich (Elliottsburg, Pa./West Perry).

Scranton started two freshmen—Ethan Danzig andKevin Doolan (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge)—in place of Ross Danzig and P.J. Kelly (Blue Bell, Pa./St. Joseph's Preparatory), who suffered a facial injury in last Saturday's win over Centenary, and both more than held their own.  The younger Danzig finished with six points and seven rebounds and Doolan had six points, four steals and only one turnover in 35 minutes of action.

The first half was a nightmare of the Royals, who missed 15 of their first 20 shots and fell behind 29-14 by intermission.  Scranton connected on just 6 of 23 attempts (26.1 percent), including 1 of 8 (12.5 percent) from beyond the 3-point arc, in the opening 20 minutes of play. 

The Royals, now 2-1, will open their Landmark Conference season this Saturday, November 22, against Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, beginning at 4:00 p.m.  It will be the Blue Jays' first game as a member of the conference.

--ROYALS--