FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mansfield Second Half Rally Falls Short in 72-65 Setback at Slippery Rock

Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK – Tony Fannick scored a career-high 27 points but Mansfield couldn't dig its way out of a deep first half hole in a 72-65 loss at Slippery Rock in a PSAC crossover game Sunday afternoon.

Mansfield, which shot season low 30.6% from the floor, was cold from the outset missing 15 of its first 18 shots to trail 25-6 eleven minutes into the game. Fannick hit all three shots.

Mansfield trailed 32-14 when Yuseff Carr hit a jumper four minutes before halftime to start a 10-3 run to close the gap to 35-26 at halftime.

Slippery Rock (10-4) hit two quick 3-pointers to start the second half and led 44-29 until Carr hit another jumper to begin a slow Mountaineer rally with 18 minutes to play. Mansfield used an 11-2 run over the next four minutes to pull to 46-40 on a Fannick jumper with 14:12 remaining and pulled to 53-50 on another jumper by Fannick five minutes later.

Fannick hit a 3-pointer moments later to cut Slippery Rock's lead to 55-53 with just over eight minutes to play. Mansfield trailed by two points at 60-58 when Kyle Bradley made a layup and an ensuing free throw with 4:05 left.

But the Mountaineers again went stone-cold from the floor, missing their next four shots while Slippery Rock hit four of five from the floor to take an insurmountable 70-60 lead with 40 seconds left in the game.

Fannick, who has scored in double-figures in each of his last five outings, had a monster game connecting on 9-of18 from the floor, including two 3-pointers, and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. He also pulled down seven rebounds. Derrison Anthony recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds while Carr added 10 points. Mansfield got just two points from its bench in the game.

Devin Taylor led four Slippery Rock players in double-figures with 20 points while Maron Brown had a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Mansfield ends its non-conference schedule with an 8-4 mark. The Mountaineers were 5-2 against PSAC West foes.

Mansfield opens the PSAC East season on Wednesday when the Mountaineers host West Chester at Decker Gymnasium.