FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mansfield men continue brutal early season schedule at California and Indiana

MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University men's basketball team will take to the road for the fifth time in its first seven games of the season when the Mountaineers face California and Indiana in a pair of PSAC crossover contest this Tuesday and Wednesday.

The road trip is part of a brutal early season schedule that has Mansfield on the road for nine of the first 11 games of the 2012-13 campaign.

The Mountaineers have dropped four straight games since beating Roberts Wesleyan in the season opener. Those four losses have come at the hands of Division I Buffalo along with PSAC foes Edinboro, Slippery Rock and West Chester which have a combined 14-5 mark.

Things won't get any easier at California (3-3) and IUP (6-1). Cal handed Edinboro its first defeat of the season in its last game and IUP is currently ranked 18th in the nation in the latest NCAA Division II poll.

A young Mansfield team, which features three newcomers to the starting lineup, is led by last season PSAC East Freshman of the Year Joe Bell. The sophomore forward ranks 6th in the PSAC in scoring (17.2 ppg) and 5th in rebounding (10.2 rpg). Junior Onyema Utti averages 11.2 points while senior Chuck Harper is also scoring in double-figures at 11.0 points per game.

Fans can listen to Shane Wilber of ESPN Radio Williamsport call both games and follow live stats at GoMounties.com.

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. for both games.