MBSK2-07-01

East Stroudsburg, Pa. - Mansfield handed East Stroudsburg University's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference men's basketball hopes a damaging blow Wednesday night by edging the Warriors, 86-84.

ESU dropped below .500 in the conference with a 3-4 record behind division leader Bloomsburg (6-0), West Chester (5-2) and Millersville (4-2). Cheyney (3-5), Mansfield (2-5) and Kutztown (1-6) round out the standings.

The Warriors still are in fourth place, the last playoff spot, but still must play Bloomsburg once and West Chester twice in their remaining five PSAC games.

After falling behind by eight points, 86-78, with 19 seconds remaining, the Warriors almost pulled off a miracle as Wayne Bishop and Shahad Abdur Rahkman both hit 3-pointers to cut the margin to two points with 2.7 seconds left. Mansfield's Damar Lopez missed two free throws and Rahkman tried a long heave from behind halfcourt which was short.

The Mounties had taken the lead for good, 66-62, as Jason Mattern scored on a four-point play with a 3-pointer and a foul shot with 8:26 remaining. ESU got back to within two points at 71-69, but Andy Scott's dunk triggered a six-point run which opened the lead to 77-69 with 4:27 left.

ESU's Juwan Justice took game scoring honors with 23 points, making nine of 13 shots from the floor, including two 3-pointers. He fouled out with 41 seconds remaining.

Bishop added 17 points, Gabe Crowley 15 and Rahkman 13. Freshman Jon Kelley was the game's leading rebounder with 11, a career high.

Mansfield had four double-figure scorers with Scott tops with 15 points followed by Lopez 13, Matt Diehl 12 and Mattern ten. The Mounties had a hot shooting night, making 55.6 percent of their shots (30 for 54) compared to ESU's 45 percent mark (32 for 71).

The loss drops the Warriors' overall record to 10-11 while Mansfield is now 5-14. ESU had won the first meeting between the two teams, 92-80.

Rahkman 5 0-1 13, Justice 9 3-4 23, Crowley 7 1-1 15, Bishop 5 4-4 17, Kelley 1 2-6 4, Smith 0 2-2 2, Kostic 0 0-0 0, Collins 1 0-0 2, Wimmer 2 0-0 4, Georges 2 0-0 4. Totals: 32 12-18 84

Lopez 4 4-8 13, Diehl 5 2-2 12, Roscoe 3 1-2 8, Jackson 2 5-8 9, Connor 2 0-0 4, Mattern 3 1-1 10, Goodman 2 2-2 6, Longpre 3 1-4 9, Scott 6 3-7 15. Totals: 30 19-34 86

Three Point Goals: ESU - Rahkman 3, Bishop 3, Justice 2; Mansfield - Lopez, Roscoe, Mattern 3, Longpre 2

Halftime: Mansfield, 40-38