Box Score

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Joe Bell leads Mansfield to 77-73 win over Clarion

MANSFIELD – Joe Bell had a monster-game scoring 34 points and pulling down a career-high 22 rebounds to lead Mansfield to a 77-73 win over Clarion in a PSAC crossover contest Friday night at Decker Gymnasium.

"We needed a win, we found a way, and one guy stepped up big," said head coach Rich Miller. "Joe (Bell) was just exceptional and just as importantly as his stat line was the way Joe played physically tough and responded from last week."

Bell, who was coming off the two worst games of his career, had already recorded a double-double by halftime with 13 points and 12 rebounds as Mansfield held a slight 39-37 advantage at intermission.

Mansfield came out strong in the second half going on a 16-3 run over the first five minutes taking a 55-40 lead on a jumper by Bell at the 14:20 mark.

But Clarion started to slowly but steadily chip away, cutting the lead to 60-55 with seven minutes remaining.

Clarion would tie the score on a layup by Eban Batle with just over four minutes to play, but Mansfield got a 3-point play on a Bell layup and ensuing free throw to go up 72-68. Clarion cut the lead to 72-70  with 45 seconds left but Mansfield responded with a layup by Tremaine Bowman and hit three free throws to hold on for the win.

Bell, who had gone 1-20 from the floor in his last two games, connected on 12-of-17 shots and went 10-11 from the free throw. He also blocked four shots and had four steals.

Chuck Harper had 13 points for the Mountaineers with Charles Becoats scoring 10 points.

Marques Jones topped four players in double-figures for Clarion with 18 points.

It was the first home game for the Mountaineers since Dec. 2 and just the third time they have played in Decker Gymanium in 12 games this season.Bell's 22 rebounds were the most by a Mountaineer since Chris Fink pulled down 23 in a 99-72 win over Slippery Rock on Dec. 19, 1994.

Mansfield hosts Lock Haven Saturday night.