Box Score

MILLERSVILLE – Freshman sensation Joe Bell topped four Mountaineers in double-figures with a game and season-high 34 points to lead Mansfield to a 94-66 win over Millersville in a PSAC East matchup at Pucillo Gymnasium Saturday afternoon.

“I know it's a cliché, but this was a very good win for this team,” said head coach Rich Miller. “I didn't know if we could come back after how badly we performed Wednesday night (81-60 loss to Bloomsburg), but these guys showed me something today.”

The win was the first on the road in 11 tries for the Mountaineers this season and snaps a 12-game losing-streak away from Decker Gymnasium dating back to a 81-73 win at Bloomsburg late last season.

The 94 points are also the most points scored by a Mountaineer team on the road since posting a 104-93 win at Seton Hill in the second game of the 2007-08 campaign.

Mansfield held a 15-13 lead seven minutes into the game before the Charles Becoats connected on a 3-pointer to key a 7-0 run and increased the advantage to 22-13 just a minute later.

Millersville pulled to within 28-24 on a 3-pointer by Mike Seibert with just over seven minutes remaining before halftime, but Mansfield answered back with a 18-4 run to take a 46-28 lead at intermission.

Bell, who scored the first six points of that late first half run, scored 16 points in the first half and combined with Becoats, who scored 13 first half points, to produced 29 of the Mountaineers 46 first half points.

“Joe Bell put on a performance today,” commented Miller. “He was just awesome and getting him the ball more often was our game plan going into today. I'm pleased with the way the guys responded and followed through with the game plan.”

Bell, who also recorded his third double-double of the season with 11 rebounds, just missed getting a double-double in the first half with nine boards.
It would be more of the same for the Mountaineers after coming out of the lockerroom as they extended the lead to 65-39 on a Chuck Harper layup seven minutes into the second half.

“Our defense and our press really created a lot of turnovers,” explained Miller. “But more importantly, we converted on those opportunities with points.”
Mansfield forced Millersville into 19 turnovers resulting in 27 points and out rebounded the taller Marauders 44-31 for the game.

The Mountaineers never allowed Millersville back into the game, leading by as many as 28 points at 86-58 on a layup by Bell with just under five minutes to go.

The 94 points were the most scored on the road by a Mansfield team since a 104-93 win at Seton Hill in the second game of the 2007-08 season.  Bell's 34 points were the most scored by a Mountaineer in a game since Kevin Hill's 47-points in that win at Seton Hill.

Mansfield (9-15, 6-14 PSAC) swept the season series with Millersville and extended its winning streak over the Marauders to eight-straight games dating back to 2008. It was Millersville worst home loss since at least 1982.

In addition to Bell's 34 points, Becoats scored 17 points with Chuck Harper adding 11 points and Kyle Bradley 10.

Jaymes Miller led Millersville (9-15, 7-13 PSAC) with 19 points while Mike Seibert scored 17 points.

Mansfield travels to Kutztown Wednesday before returning home to host West Chester for Senior Day on Saturday.