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BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - Redshirt junior Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) scored 27 points and junior Kyle-Michael Rose (Middletown, Del./Sanford School (Highland CC)) added a career-high 22 points to lift the Bloomsburg University men's basketball team to a 97-84 victory over visiting Edinboro University on Monday night at the Nelson Field House. The Huskies, who have won four of their last five games, improved to 7-6 overall and 3-6 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division. With the loss, Edinboro dropped to 4-9 overall and 2-6 in the PSAC Western Division.

Rose scored 20 of his career-high 22 points in the second half with 14 of those coming in the final 8:27 of regulation. He was 10-of-16 from the field and 2-of-2 from the foul line to eclipse his previous high of 17 points he scored at Wilmington on November 26. Mortellite, meanwhile, added 15 of his 27 points in the second half as the Huskies exploded for 59 second-half points to break a 38-38 halftime tie.

Senior Yahmir Greenlee (Philadelphia, Pa./Boys Latin) added 14 points for his fourth consecutive game in double figures. Junior Carnell McGirt (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic (Valley Forge Military Academy)), coming off of a career-high 26 points in the loss at #14 Shippensburg last Friday, posted his fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.

The opening twenty minutes saw neither team take a lead larger than five points as the half featured 10 ties and 13 lead changes. Edinboro's Jaymon Mason, the PSAC's leading scorer entering the contest, poured in 20 of the team's 38 points in the first half. Mortellite, the PSAC's fourth-leading scorer entering the game, led the Huskies with 12 first-half points.

Edinboro's Sheldon Brogdon gave the visitors a 41-38 lead with a triple at the outset of the second half before Mortellite went to the other end and buried a three-pointer to tie the game at 41-41 just seconds later. McGirt followed with a layup to give the Huskies a 43-41 advantage with 18:45 left in regulation - a lead Bloomsburg would not give up again.

Mortellite scored eight points during a 15-7 spurt over the next 3:44 as Bloomsburg was able to build the lead to double digits, 58-48, with 15:01 left in regulation. The Huskies then extended the advantage to as many as 12 points, 65-53, with 12:06 remaining after Rose knocked down a pair of free throws. The Fighting Scots, however, would not go away as they went on a 10-2 run to cut the Bloomsburg lead to 67-63 with 9:29 left.

Then, Rose took over.

With the Huskies leading 69-65 with 8:27 left, Rose scored Bloomsburg next six points before Greenlee nailed a three-pointer to get the advantage back up to nine points, 78-69, with 6:52 left. Rose then scored Bloomsburg's next four points as the Huskies grabbed an 82-72 lead with 3:46 left in regulation.

Mason cut the lead to seven with 3:10 left by making 3-of-4 attempts from the foul line. But, McGirt hit a layup, Mortellite buried a triple, and junior Alex Prislupsky (Olyphant, Pa./Mid-Valley) converted a layup in the next minute and, all of a sudden, the Huskies had their biggest lead of the game, 89-75, with 2:14 left. The Huskies got the lead up to as many as 16 points before settling for the 13-point victory.

Bloomsburg finished the game shooting 37-of-73 (50.7%) from the field, 10-of-21 (47.6%) from long range, and 13-of-15 (86.7%) from the foul line in the victory. The Huskies also held a 40-31 edge in the rebounding department.

Prislupsky finished with a solid all-around game - eight points, five rebounds, and five assists while senior Donell Diggs (Washington, D.C./Takoma Academy (Prince George's CC)) returned to the lineup after missing the last three games and finished with seven points by going 7-of-7 from the foul line.

Mason was sensational in a losing effort for Edinboro. He finished with 34 points - his fifth 30-point effort of the season - while also adding game-highs in assists (8) and steals (3). He led four Fighting Scots in double figures.

Bloomsburg will return to action on Wednesday, January 11, when it hosts Mansfield University at the Nelson Field House. Start time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.