HTML BOX SCORE

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - Redshirt junior Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) scored a game-high 30 points, including five three-pointers, to lift the Bloomsburg University men's basketball team to an 83-73 win over visiting West Chester University on Wednesday night. With the win, the Huskies improved to 12-8 overall and evened their Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) record to 8-8 on the year. The Golden Rams dropped to 9-12 overall and 7-9 in league play.

Mortellite's fifth triple of the game, with 7:44 left in regulation, gave him 83 three-pointers on the season which surpassed Bloomsburg's single-season school-record for most three-pointers. Jay DeShields held the previous record of 82 during the 2001-02 campaign.

It was Mortellite's second 30-point effort of the season - both in the last three games - as he took over the scoring average lead in the PSAC at 23.6 points per game. Mortellite certainly had help, however, as senior Yahmir Greenlee (Philadelphia, Pa./Boys Latin) continued his torrid play with 23 points and four assists. Junior Carnell McGirt (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic (Valley Forge Military Academy)) added 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds while junior Kyle-Michael Rose (Middletown, Del./Sanford School (Highland CC)) finished with 10 points on the night.

West Chester's Jackson Hyland gave the Golden Rams a 2-0 lead at the outset of the contest before Greenlee nailed a three-pointer to give Bloomsburg a 3-2 lead with 18:46 left in the first half. The Huskies would never trail the rest of the way.

Bloomsburg built the lead to as many as nine points on two separate occasions in the first half - the last coming with 4:51 left in the opening twenty minutes. The Golden Rams, however, went on an 11-3 run over a four-minute span to cut the Huskies' lead to 29-28 with 58 seconds remaining. But, three free throws from Mortellite and a layup from Greenlee just before time expired gave Bloomsburg a 34-30 lead at the end of the first half.

Greenlee had 14 points in the first half while Mortellite had 10, but was held to 2-of-8 from the field and 1-of-7 from beyond the arc.

Bloomsburg came out scorching hot in the second half as a three-point play from McGirt and a three-pointer from Mortellite gave the Huskies a 40-32 advantage with 18:39 left in regulation. The Huskies continued to pour it on as they went on a 22-8 run over the next eight minutes to take a commanding 62-40 lead with 10:03 remaining.

After Mortellite's record-breaking three-pointer with 7:44 left, the Huskies still led, 67-48, before the Golden Rams put together a comeback bid. West Chester went on an 8-0 run to cut Bloomsburg's lead to eleven, 67-56, with 5:25 left. The Huskies rebuilt the lead to 14 with 3:35 remaining before the Golden Rams again cut into the deficit - getting it down to as few as six points, 77-71, with 1:21 remaining. But, a layup from junior Alex Prislupsky (Olyphant, Pa./Mid-Valley) and two foul shots each from Mortellite and senior Donell Diggs (Washington, D.C./Takoma Academy (Prince George's CC)) sealed the ten-point victory.

Bloomsburg shot 24-of-55 (43.6%) from the field for the game, which included a 15-of-27 (55.6%) showing in the second half. The Huskies, who entered the game ranked second in the PSAC, and tenth in the country, in free throw percentage, uncharacteristically missed 11 foul shots in 39 attempts (71.8%) on the night. Mortellite, however, was a perfect 11-of-11 from the charity stripe.

West Chester shot just 39.4% from the field and committed 22 turnovers but did outrebound the Huskies, 43-36.

Tyrell Long led the Golden Rams with 19 points and 16 rebounds while Zach Bare added 18 points. Malik Jackson, who entered tied for fourth in the PSAC in scoring, made just 1-of-10 from downtown and finished with 13 points.

Bloomsburg will return home on Saturday, February 4, to host eighth-ranked Shippensburg at the Nelson Field House. Start time is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.