DALLAS, Pa. – Kyle Tang and Giovanni Sejuste combined for 37 points for the Lebanon Valley men's basketball team in a tough 78-63 defeat at Misericordia University on Saturday afternoon at the Anderson Center in Dallas.
 
The Cougars (14-5, 6-2 MAC Freedom) got off to a strong start with the first seven points of the game. Phil Unangst put the Dutchmen (5-14, 3-5 MAC Freedom) on the board with a layup off a nice pass down low by Tyler Kerlin. Neither team scored over the next two minutes until the hosts came out of the first media timeout by hitting a three-pointer. Tang drove the left side of the lane and hit a pull-up jumper before another Cougar three-pointer gave Misericordia a 13-4 advantage. Karson Pavlik scored after grabbing an offensive rebound, and after a MU layup, the senior hit a three-pointer near the top of the key. Tang stole the ball and cruised to the hoops for an easy two points to get LVC within four at 15-11 with just under 12 minutes to play in the half.
 
The teams traded layups as Tang drove for his third bucket of the game. The Cougars responded with a three-pointer to start a 13-0 run that pushed the lead to 30-17 with eight minutes on the clock. Sejuste found Luke Chilton for an elbow jumper and then knocked down a pair of free throws to get the lead down to 13. Misericordia countered with a pair of buckets before Sejuste put back a Bandy three-point attempt. The first-year answered a MU three-pointer with a drive to the hoop for two, and then Tang sank two shots at the line to make it 37-23 with 3:44 on the clock. The teams traded scores on the next four possessions with Reed Melvin and Tang scoring underneath the rim for the Dutchmen. Each team made a free throw over the final minute as Misericordia took a 42-28 lead into the half.
 
The Cougars began the second half with a 6-2 run over the first two minutes. Kerlin had LVC's points on a foul-line jumper. The Dutchmen answered with a 6-0 run to cut the deficit down to 12. Sejuste started the run with a pair of free throws, while Bandy and Tang scored driving layups. MU answered with a three-pointer and a tip-in bucket. The Dutchmen countered with another pair of layups from Bandy and Tang. The Cougars responded with the next four points before Melvin hit a close-range bucket and Sejuste made the backend of two shots at the line to cut the lead to 57-43 with 12 minutes remaining.
 
Misericordia knocked down a three-pointer and two free throws around a pair of free throws by Sejuste. Pavlik recorded a steal, and Tang hit Jason Penn in the corner for a three-pointer to get the Dutchmen within 14 at 64-50. Tang answered a pair of Misericordia scores with a bucket in the paint and then a left-wing three-pointer to make it 66-53. The Cougars countered with the next six points to extend the advantage to 19 with six minutes on the clock. Melvin hit a layup before a pair of free throws and a three-pointer over the next two minutes got the deficit to 77-55. Sejuste had a pair of buckets in the paint and two shots at the line to cut the lead down to 17 points. Gannon Perlini scored on a driving layup to set the final score at 78-63.
 
Inside the Box

• Tang finished with 19 points, four assists, and three rebounds. It is the fourth time this season the guard has scored at least 15 points.
• Sejuste continued his excellent play with 18 points and six rebounds. The first-year has averaged over 20 points during conference play and has scored at least 14 points in every conference game.
• Melvin poured in six points with five rebounds, while Pavlik added five points and six rebounds.
• 10 different Dutchmen made a field goal in the game, and LVC scored 36 points in the paint.
• The Dutchmen scored 15 points off eight Misericordia turnovers. The Dutchmen had a 41-35 rebounding advantage.

Up Next
LVC will play four of the final six regular-season games at Sorrentino Gymnasium starting on Wednesday, Feb. 4, with a big matchup against DeSales University. Tipoff against the Bulldogs is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Annville.

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