FORT WAYNE, Ind. – On Friday evening the University of Saint Francis Cougars (2-0) traveled to Rochester Hills, Michigan to take on the Rochester University Warriors (2-1) and won 83-76 as they were strong in all aspects of the game.

After traveling to Bloomington Thursday evening for an exhibition against the Indiana University Hoosiers, the Cougars were anxious to get back at it and came out strong to start the game.

In the early minutes of the game, the Cougars and Warriors fought it out to a back-and-forth battle exchanging one lead after another and setting the tone that this was going to be a tense fight.

Halfway through the first half the score was tied at 17, but less than three minutes later, the Cougars found some momentum and built a lead over Rochester. Consecutive three-point makes by Brayton Bailey and Zane Burke put Saint Francis ahead by six the largest margin of the game to that point.

The Cougars kept pressing to maintain their lead in the final minutes of the first half and took an eight-point lead going to halftime ahead 42-34 after the first 20 minutes.

Heading into the second half the Cougars managed to hold their lead over the Warriors eventually seeing their lead grow to 10 points on several occasions. Saint Francis held an 11-point lead with 10 minutes left to play.

The Warriors didn't go quietly though chipping away and closing the deficit to within three points with under two minutes to play. When it was all said and done though the Cougars made the free throws they needed to make and held on to open the season 2-0.

Throughout the game, the Cougars shot 49 percent from the floor, 36 percent from beyond the three-point line, and 74 percent from the free throw line. Senior guard Dan McKeeman and graduate guard Antwaan Cushingberry each had 20 points to lead the team, while sophomore guard Zane Burke enjoyed his second double-double of the season recording a team-leading 12 rebounds and getting 13 points of his own.

The Cougars resume play on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Grand Rapids, Michigan to face the Aquinas College Saints (2-0) beginning at 4:30 pm.

Cougar fans stay updated with all events and recaps with USF Athletics by visiting Saintfranciscougars.com or by downloading the Saint Francis Cougars app.