DALLAS, Pa. - The Haverford College men's basketball team (3-8) opened up 2025 with a road contest at Misericordia's Anderson Center Saturday afternoon, falling 104-69 to the host Cougars (7-4) in non-conference action.
Logan Brown, who tallied 12 points and three rebounds, returned from injury to bolster the Haverford lineup, while Gaven Marr added 10 points and contributed on the boards. However, Misericordia's pace soon took over, fueled by sharp shooting and fast-break points.
Second-chance opportunities were hard to come by for the Fords, as the Cougars shot 54 percent and controlled the defensive glass throughout the game. Haverford struggled on the boards, being out-rebounded 51-38 by Misericordia.
Misericordia started strong, opening with a 17-8 run that prompted a Haverford timeout at the 12:47 mark of the first half. The Cougars showcased their early prowess from beyond the arc, connecting on 4-of-5 three-pointers during the stretch, including three from Kevin Lazdowsky. The run was halted by an open layup from Logan Brown, marking his return to the Haverford lineup.
The Cougars quickly followed with another 10-0 surge, forcing Haverford to call its second timeout of the half at the 10:46 mark while trailing 25-10. The deficit grew to 17 points before three-pointers from Carter Warren and Gaven Marr helped the Fords chip away slightly. However, Lazdowsky continued his hot shooting, adding another triple to keep Misericordia in control.
Misericordia extended its lead to 18 points with 4:12 left in the first half. The Cougars then capitalized on their momentum with an 11-1 run, punctuated by yet another three-pointer from Lazdowsky, who finished the first half with 19 points, pushing the score to 49-23.
Ali Kaan Bek ended the run with a jumper, but Haverford struggled offensively throughout the first half. The Fords shot just 2-of-15 from beyond the arc, while the Cougars were red-hot, shooting 59.4 percent from the field to secure a commanding 24-point advantage at halftime.
Warren opened up the second half scoring with a triple, as Misericordia struggled from the field to begin the second half, connecting on just one of its first six attempts. Adam Strong-Jacobson completed a three-point play at the line, and Gaven Marr later connected on a three-ball. Derin Ongur notched a layup before Brown glided to the basket. Suddenly, the Fords had connected on 5-of-6 from the field to pull within 17.
A 6-0 Cougars run put the hosts up 70-45 at the 10-minute mark, with Dylan Wagner connecting and taking a charge on the other end to restore possession for the Cougars. Patrick Brown then connected on the 11th Misericordia three of the day for a 27-point cushion.
Strong-Jacobson provided nine points on efficient shooting, while Seth Anderson secured seven rebounds. Carter Warren also chipped in with nine points, showcasing his versatility on both ends of the floor.
Lazdowsky led all scorers with 21 points, while Matt Prociak was the only other Cougar player in double-digit scoring with 16 points in 27 minutes.
Haverford will look to bounce back as the Fords continue non-conference play on Tuesday, January 7, traveling to Penn State Abington for a 6 p.m. tip-off against the Nittany Lions. The Fords will then open Centennial Conference action next Saturday at Muhlenberg.
