READING, Pa. – The Albright men's basketball team got 14 points apiece from Calvert Gantz and Fred Rowles, but the Lions fell to Misericordia 87-78 on the first day of the Crowne Plaza Holiday Tournament at the Bollman Center Thursday afternoon.

The Lions led by as many as 11 points in the first half before the Cougars battled back to regain the lead early in the second. Misericordia went on a seven-point run capped off by a three-pointer from Tony Harding to take a 59-51 lead with 14:03 remaining in the second half.

Rowles highlighted the Lions late comeback with his second three-pointer of the game, which knotted the score at 72 with 4:05. The Cougars then outscored Albright 15-6 in the remaining time with Jason Kenny scoring 11 of Misericordia's points.Kenny finished with a game-high 31 points. 

Omari Ringgold and Brandon Lindsay also finished with double-digit points as the pair each scored 10 points. Garret Oplinger had a team-high eight rebounds, while Ringgold led the team with five assists.

New Jersey City defeated Gettysburg 61-57 in the first game of the tournament. Albright will host Gettysburg in the Consolation Game at 2 p.m. Following the completion of the game, New Jersey and Misericordia will battle in the Championship game with tip-off scheduled for 4 p.m.