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WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. - Phil Argento, a member of the Mount Vernon Nazarene University men's basketball team, became the program's all-time scoring leader, but the Cougars fell 67-58 in non-conference action at Point Park (Pa.) College on Thursday night.

Argento, a senior guard from Grafton, Ohio, scored nine points in the first half to tie the mark of 2,242 points set by former MVNU standout and current women's basketball coach Steve Gregory (131 career games from 1987-1991).

However, the host Pioneers (10-11) shot 52.8 percent from the field in the half and bolted to a 48-33 halftime lead as they also used a 26-16 rebounding advantage. Brian Kennedy and William Chaney each scored 16 points to lead Point Park.

Then, with 11:58 remaining in the second half, Argento nailed a three-pointer to break the record and give him 2,245 points in 128 career games. The way the record was broken was fitting since Argento holds the school and state record for three-pointers with 447. He also moved into eighth place nationally in the history of college basketball.

The Cougars (17-12), who trailed by as many as 19 points in the second half at 56-37 with 13:27 remaining, used the record-breaking shot to send them on a 20-4 run that closed the gap to 60-57 with 4:29 to play on a three-point play by Anthony Delimpo. MVNU still trailed by just 62-58 with 1:36 to play, but the Pioneers scored the final seven points of the game to post the 67-58 victory.

"Getting the (scoring) record is nice, but team goals and victories are more important to me," said Argento after the game. "Hopefully, we can build off our comeback in the second half and use that to go on a run now as we close out the season and head into the playoffs."

Delimpo led MVNU with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Argento finished with 12 points as he reached double figures for the 111th game of his career. He also finished with three treys as he has made at least one three-pointer in a school-record 74 straight games and 123 games overall. Brad Moser also contributed nine points and nine rebounds.

Point Park was led by Kennedy with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Chaney added 18 points, and Tez Williams tossed in 11 points. MVNU held the Pioneers to just 17.6 percent shooting in the second half (6-of-34) from the field.

"Although we struggled in the first half, we played outstanding defense in the second half," said MVNU head coach Scott Flemming. "With two minutes to go, we had only given up 14 points in the second half. We had four or five open shots to tie it towards the end, but we just could not hit the big one. I am proud of the way that we competed to get back in the game."

The Cougars will close out the regular season on Saturday at home against Geneva (Pa.) College in another non-conference game at 7:30 p.m. Prior to that game, Argento and fellow seniors, Konrod Morris and Brad Moser, will be honored for their accomplishments as they play their final home game.