MBSK2-9

ESU-Mansfield Men's Basketball

EAST STROUDSBURG - Forward Shahad Abdur Rahkman made all eight of his shots in the second half as he scored 19 of his game total of 30 points to lead East Stroudsburg University to an 83-68 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference men's basketball victory over Mansfield Wednesday night.

Rahkman was only 5 for 18 from the floor at halftime and had 11 points as the Warriors trailed, 34-27. He was perfect in the second half, however, as he hit a season scoring high. His previous best was 28 points achieved last Saturday against Cheyney.

The 6-2 William Allen High School graduate raised his season total to 377 points to break the school freshman scoring record. The old mark was 364 points by Dave Moyer in 1974-75.

"I thought it was a wonderful performance by Shahad. He missed a lot of shots that he usually makes in the first half, but he is a difficult guy to guard and he used that to his advantage in the second half," said ESU Coach Mike Power.

After shooting only 30 percent in the first half, ESU came out roaring after intermission and scored 21 points in the first five minutes to take a 48-41 lead. R.C. Kehoe hit three straight three-pointers and Juwan Justice added another 'three.'

Meanwhile, the ESU defense took charge at the other end of the court, holding the the Mounties to only one basket on their half-court offense over the first seven minutes of the half.

"I got on them pretty hard at halftime," said ESU Coach Mike Power. "I felt that the intensity that we emphasize on defense wasn't there in the first half.

"We came with a lot of energy and enthusiasm in the second half, started hitting some big 'threes' and didn't give them any real good looks or easy shots," he added.

"This win was important because from now on every conference game is important," said Power, whose team evened its PSAC record at 4-4. The team is 6-14 overall, but 6-5 in its last 11 games.

The Warriors made 18 of 26 shots in the second half for a 69 percent shooting average. Justice had 13 of his game total of 18 points, Rob Smith ten of his 15 points and Kehoe all ten of his points.

Center Quincy Henderson had his second biggest rebounding game of the season with ten boards. His best was 13 rebounds in an earlier 89-85 loss to Mansfield. Justice pulled down nine rebounds and had five assists and three streals.

Domontric Doddles led Mansfield (10-11, 1-7 PSAC) with 15 points with Tommy Harvey adding 14, Alex Goodman 13 and Damar Lopez ten.

ESU 83

Rahkman 13 3-4 30, Smith 4 6-7 15, Justice 6 2-7 18, Kostic 0 1-2 1, Kehoe

3 1-2 10, Henderson 2 2-2 6, Lynch 1 1-2 3. Totals: 29 16-26 83

Mansfield 68

Damar Lopez 5 0-2 10, Perluke 2 0-0 4, Damoun Lopez 1 0-2 3, Goodman

4 4-4 13, Brown 0 0-0 0, Bristol 0 0-0 0, Harvey 4 4-4 14, Doddles 4 6-8 15,

Schrader 4 1-4 9, Creighton 0 0-0 0. Totals: 24 15-24 68

Three-Point Goals: ESU - Justice 4, Kehoe 3, Rahkman, Smith; Mansfield -

Harvey 2, Damoun Lopez, Goodman, Doddles.

Halftime: Mansfield, 34-27