DALLAS, PA. – The Manhattanville College men's basketball team dropped a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom road contest at Misericordia University Saturday afternoon, Jan. 12, by a score of 91-71.
 
Sophomore Sean Smith, Jr. (Yonkers, N.Y./Sacred Heart), led all players with a game-high 32 points and added eight rebounds, but no other member of Manhattanville ­­(7-8, 1-3 MACF) was able to score more than 11 against the Cougars (9-6, 2-2 MACF).
 
Misericordia began the game on a 12-4 run with 16:20 remaining in the first half, but the Valiants climbed all the way back and trimmed the lead to just one at 18-17 with 9:35 remaining. Sophomore Mike Granda (Monroe Township, N.J./St. Joseph) began the run with a three-point basket, and then rookie Jake Dunn (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell) scored two of his 11 points on a lay-in. Smith followed with a jumper, then junior Cory Madden (Woodside, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy Memorial) nailed a three of his own and freshman Chris Brown (Miami, Fla./Coral Gables Senior) sank a free throw. Madden closed out the run with a layup as well.
 
The rest of the half was very close between the conference foes, as Misericordia's lead, which stretched out to 10 points on two occasions, was whittled down to just two points once again when Granda nailed another three with 53 seconds remaining in the half. The Cougars' Jason Kenny sank a layup with 35 seconds left and the score at the break was 43-39 Misericordia.
 
Unfortunately, the Cougars started the second half on a 9-0 run and never looked back. The home squad outscored the Valiants 48-32 in the second half en route to the 91-71 victory.
 
Manhattanville will return to action this Wednesday night, Jan. 16, in another road MAC Freedom game. The Valiants will be in Center Valley, Pa., to face DeSales University and tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.