Box Score
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Bell Becomes the 25th Player in MU History to Reach 1,000 Point Milestone But Mounties Fall to West Chester

MANSFIELD – Joe Bell scored game-high 29 points to reach the 1,000 point milestone but Mansfield came up short in a 103-92 setback to West Chester in a PSAC East contest Saturday afternoon on the First Citizens Community Bank Court at Decker Gymnasium.

Bell, who need 27 points coming into the game to reach the 1,000 point mark, became the 25th player in school history to reach the milestone and the first to do it in his junior season since Yuseff Carr accomplished the feat in 2010.

The fast-paced game featured deadly long-distance shooting with West Chester hitting 13-of-23 3-pointers for the game including 9-of-13 in the first half. Mansfield was just as deadly from the outside in the first half connecting on 5-of-7 3-pointers over the first 20 minutes of the game.

The Golden Rams R.J. Griffin was unstoppable in the first half connecting on 7-8 from the floor including a remarkable 5-of-6 on 3-point attempts to score 21 of his 28 points before halftime

West Chester (4-1, 2-0 PSAC East) got off to a fast start scoring the first seven points of the game.

Mansfield (1-4, 0-2 PSAC East) rallied to tie the score at 19-19 on a pair of free throws by Kevonte McClain seven minutes into the game before West Chester took a 55-49 lead into halftime.

West Chester went on a 9-4 run over the first two minutes of the second half to take a 62-51 advantage before Mansfield countered with a 10-0 run of its own closing to 65-64 on a Onyema Utti 3-pointer five minutes into the half.

It was still a one-point game at the midpoint of the second half at 74-73 on a pair of Bell free throws before West Chester started to slowly pull away.
Mansfield was held without a free goal from the 12:31 mark until McClain hit a layup with 6:57 remaining as West Chester built a 82-73 lead.

Mansfield was outrebounded 34-24, including 15-5 on the offensive glass, and turned the ball over 22 times resulting in 28 West Chester points.

Bell scored 20 of his 29 points in the second half and also pulled down a team-high five rebounds and blocked two shots. He hit 13-15 free throws. Utti and McClain each had a season-high 14 points with freshman Ryan Krawczeniuk adding 10 points.

Griffin led five Golden Rams in double-figures with 28 points. Troy Hockadya scored 19 points and Cory Blake 16 points.

Mansfield travels to Lincoln University Tuesday for the Mountaineers final non-conference game of the season.