Box Score
BLOOMSBURG—Four Huskies scored in double-figures, but the Huskies came up short, as the Bloomsburg University men's basketball team fell to Mansfield University, 81-73, in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division action Wednesday at Nelson Field House. With the win, the Mountaineers, ranked No. 6 in the Atlantic in NCAA Regional polls, improve to 16-7 (8-3 PSAC East), while the Huskies slip to 10-13 (6-5 PSAC East).
Bloomsburg was able to control the action early in the first half, building up a 14-9 lead and later extending the advantage to six, 17-11. A quick 6-0 run by Mansfield neutralized that edge, and with nine minutes to play in the first half, the game was tied 17-17.
The Mountaineers acquired their largest lead of the half with six to play, up 24-20. The Huskies responded with a 5-0 run, and the teams continued to swap points for the remainder of the period. By halftime, the score was tied for the eighth time in the game at 35-35.
Mansfield's bench proved dominating in the first half, as the Mountaineers' non-starters accounted for 22 points in the period, compared to just 2 by Bloomsburg's bench. The Huskies remained competitive by maintaining a first-half edge in both rebounding and shooting percentage.
In the second half, Mansfield dictated the early pace, scoring the first points of the period and maintaining their lead for nearly eight minutes. Larry Webster (Hagerstown, MD/Elkton) III made a pair of free throws to tie up the game at 52-52 with 12:15 to play.
Bloomsburg took its largest lead of the game with 6:40 remaining as Dontahe Jordan (Williamsport/Williamsport) connected on two free throws put the Maroon and Gold up three, 63-60.
With four minutes remaining, the game was tied for the 13th time at 69-69, and the Mountaineers made the decisive move. Mansfield took the lead for good and made 8 of its final 11 free throws to ice the victory, 81-73.
Jordan led all scorers with 22 points while collecting a team-high nine rebounds. Webster scored 18, Trevon Johnson (Snow Hill, MD/Snow Hill) tallied 15, and Lorenzo Christmas (Norristown/Norristown) was also in double-figures with 13. Jesse Betar (Altoona/Altoona) dished out a game-high six assists.
For Mansfield, Donny Lyons came off the bench for a breakout day, scoring 14 points while averaging only 1.5 in previous games this season. Derrison Anthony had a team-high 18 points, and Yuseff Carr had the day's only double-double as he pitched in 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Bloomsburg plays its final home game of the regular season on Saturday, February 19. The Huskies host division-rival Cheyney University for their annual Pink Zone game at 3 p.m.; Bloomsburg's graduating seniors will also be recognized.
