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Center Valley, PA (February 4, 2012) – Misericordia University shot 60.0 percent in overtime and made its free throws when it mattered, erasing a seven-point second-half deficit to snap the DeSales University men's basketball team's four-game winning streak with a 78-76 win in overtime in Billera Hall on Saturday afternoon.

This game was back-and-forth all afternoon, featuring six ties and 11 lead changes, and was also littered with fouls as the teams combined for 49 fouls, 55 free throws, and saw three players foul out (all DeSales players) before the final horn.

The momentum swung the Bulldogs (12-9, 5-5 Freedom) way at the 12-minute mark of the second-half when senior Bob Zanneo hit a three and sophomore Paul Pammer followed with another three for a six-point play after a foul was called after the shot on Zanneo's three.  That six-point play gave DSU a 50-43 lead with 12:04 left to play.

The Cougars responded though, scoring nine straight points to take a 52-50 lead with 8:29 left to play.  From there neither team had more than a two-point lead the rest of the half as the game was tied five times over the final eight minutes.

Misericordia led by one with 3:06 remaining when DSU's leading scorer, junior Brett Moyer, became the first player to foul out on an offensive foul in the post with 2:46 to go.  After a Cougar miss on their next possession, sophomore Kyle Hash responded with a long three-pointer to give the Bulldogs a 64-62 edge with 2:09 left.

An offensive rebound by Steve Artzerounian on the other end led to two free throws, but sophomore Mike Coleman was fouled on the next possession and hit both of his freebies for a 66-64 lead with 1:28 to go.

Artzerounian missed a short jumper on the other end and DeSales has possession in its own offensive half, calling timeout to set-up a game-clinching play.  Out of the timeout, Hash drove the left baseline and had an open look at a lay-up but the shot rimmed out and Artzerounian was fouled on the other end, hitting both charity tosses with 27 ticks left tying the score at 66.

Coleman had a decent look at a game-winning jumper with less than two seconds left, but it was off the side rim and a full court heave was off the mark for Misericordia as the game advanced to overtime.

Artzerounian put MU on top with two free throws to start the extra period and never trailed the entire overtime period.  After a lay-up from Coleman with 1:02 brought DeSales within one (75-74), DSU got a huge defensive stop on the next possession and had the ball with a chance to take the lead with 40 seconds left.

The Bulldogs spread the floor for Coleman to create, but Misericordia ran an extra defender at him forcing the ball out of his hands.  Coleman eventually got it back but after spinning at the foul line to get off a jumper, sophomore Matt Greene rotated over, knocked the ball loose, and senior Ethan Eichhorst raced down for a lay-up and one to put Misericordia up four with eight seconds left.

DSU still had a chance though as Coleman raced down court for a lay-up with 3.9 left and the Bulldogs immediately fouled Eichhorst with 2.9 remaining on the inbounds.  He missed both free throws and Coleman let go on a three-pointer at the buzzer from just over half-court that hit the side rim and glanced away as time expired.

Misericordia had staved off a quick start by DeSales with a 16-4 run early in the first-half to lead 18-11.  The Bulldogs chipped away though and used a 9-2 run to end the half with a 32-30 edge at the break.  Both teams shot 42.9 percent from the field in the opening half, with DeSales benefitting at the line going 12-for-16 as compared to 2-for-2 for the Cougars.

Moyer led DeSales with 16 points in just 20 minutes of action and only seven minutes in the second-half and overtime before fouling out.  Hash added 15 points and had two steals, while Coleman finished with 14 points and six assists.  Pammer totaled nine points and senior Tom Marshall and freshman Ryan Griffin each had seven points.  DSU shot 46.2 percent from the field and took good care of the ball with just 11 turnovers in 45 minutes, but uncharacteristically struggled from the free throw line, converting just 64.5 percent after entering the contest shooting 73.4 percent as a team.

Eichhorst had a monster game for the Cougars with 27 points 10 rebounds, while Artzerounian added 15 points and Greene finished with 13 points.  Both Greene and Eichhorst played 43 of the 45 minutes.

The loss moves DeSales into a tie with FDU-Florham for the fourth and final playoff spot with four games remaining as DSU has an important week ahead of them with games at Manhattanville College and at home with the Devils of FDU on Saturday.  The game at Manhattanville was originally scheduled for Wednesday but has moved to Thursday evening (NOTE DATE CHANGE) in Purchase, NY with a time to be announced.