Jason Kenny scored 25 points and earned tournament Most Valuable Player honors Feb. 25 as host Misericordia University won the MAC Freedom title and the NCAA Division III men’s basketball national tournament berth that goes with it for the third time in six years by beating DeSales University, 78-75.
The Cougars had never made the national tournament prior to 2012.
Kenny hit four foul shots in the last five seconds to wrap up the latest title for Misericordia (20-7).
Tre Field added 18 points in the win, including 17 in the first half. Griffin Sponaugle hit four second-half 3-pointers to finish with 16.
Kenny and Tony Harding were named to the All-MAC Freedom team prior to the tournament.
Kenny, a sophomore guard from Mid Valley, was a first-team all-star for the second straight season. He averaged 21.0 points and 2.0 steals while shooting 82.5 percent from the line, all league-leading totals. He was third in the conference in field goal percentage (49.7) and fourth in 3-pointers made (2.3 per game) and assists (4.3).
Harding was selected Rookie of the Year and second-team all-star. The freshman guard from Lakeland was second in the league, hitting 51.8 percentage. He averaged 14.8 points and 7.0 rebounds, each of which ranked sixth in the league.
James Hawk, a 6-foot-10 senior center from Tunkhannock, is part of the championship team. He averages 6.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots while hitting 61.5 percent of his shots.
Misericordia was sent to Ramapo College in Mahwah, N.J. for the first two rounds of the tournament, which are scheduled to be played Friday and Saturday. Amherst and Keene State were also assigned to the site.
