LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. – Redshirt sophomore Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) scored a game-high 23 points to lift the Bloomsburg University men's basketball team to a 74-68 victory at Lincoln University on Saturday afternoon. With the victory, the Huskies improved to 4-2 on the young season. The Lions dropped to 1-4 overall.
 
Mortellite scored his 23 points on 7-of-16 from the field, 4-of-6 from long distance, and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. He also chipped in five rebounds, two assists, and a steal in the victory. Three other Huskies finished in double figures – junior Donell Diggs (Washington, D.C./Takoma Academy) had 11 while seniors Charles Haigler (Charles Town, WV/Hargrave Military Academy) and Malik Garner (Philadelphia/Chestnut Hill Academy) added ten points apiece.
 
The game was close throughout with the largest lead belonging to Bloomsburg when it jumped out to a 16-4 lead with 14:35 left in the opening half. Mortellite had eight points during the spurt. The Lions, however, battled back and put together a 10-2 run over the next four minutes to cut the Huskies' lead to 18-14 midway through the opening twenty minutes.
 
Junior Anthony McKie (Blue Bell/Plymouth Whitemarsh) nailed a three-pointer to stop the bleeding, but, the Lions battled back again with a 7-0 run to tie the game at 21-21 with 7:02 left. The Huskies, on a three-pointer by Mortellite, a layup by Diggs, and two free throws by redshirt senior Wes Lyons (Millville/Millville), went back up by seven – 28-21 – with 5:04 left in the first half. The Lions were able to tie the game at 32-32 with 15 seconds left in the half before Haigler gave the Huskies a two-point lead at the break after nailing a jumper with four seconds left.
 
The Huskies were never tied or behind in the second half but te contest remained close until Bloomsburg extended the lead to ten, 65-55, midway through the second stanza thanks to another Mortellite triple. Lincoln cut the lead to as little as two points, 70-68, with 1:14 left when Quaman Burton converted two free throws. After Haigler went 1-of-2 at the line nine seconds later, Burton had a chance to tie the game at 71-71 but his shot was blocked by Garner with 35 seconds left. Mortellite cashed two free throws and Haigler added another for the final margin.
 
Bloomsburg shot 43.6% from the field, knocking down 24 of its 55 shot attempts. The Huskies went 6-of-15 from long range with Mortellite going 4-of-6 and McKie going 2-of-3. The rest of the team was 0-for-6 on three pointers. The Huskies went to the line 29 times and made 20 for a 69.0% shooting percentage.
 
Burton led three Lions in double figures with 18 points.

The Huskies will play three Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) games next week, all at home, beginning on Tuesday, December 1 when the Warriors of East Stroudsburg University invade Nelson Field House. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Bloomsburg will then entertain Mercyhurst on Friday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Gannon on Saturday, December 5 at 4:00 p.m.