Box Score

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Bell and Becoats Combine for 41 Points in 82-73 Win Over Shippensburg

MANSFIELD – Joe Bell and Charles Becoats combined for 41 points, topping four Mountaineers in double-figures, to lead Mansfield to a key 82-73 win over Shippensburg in a PSAC East contest Saturday afternoon on First Citizens Community Bank Court at Decker Gymnasium.

The win was the second in the last three games for the Mountaineers and moves them back into playoff contention.

Mansfield jumped out to a 16-9 lead on a Bell jumper five minutes into the game and led 32-24 when Becoats buried a 3-pointer with just over three minutes remaining in the half.

Shippensburg closed out the half with a 7-2 run to pull to 36-33 at intermission.

Shippensburg went on a 7-0 run over the first two minutes of the second half to take a 40-36 advantage before the Mountaineers countered with a 10-0 run of their own, retaking the lead at 46-40 on a 3-pointer by Bell.

The Raiders staged another rally, taking the lead 54-53 midway through the half of a pair of free throws by Joe Lococo. But Mansfield came right back with another 10-0 run over the next two minutes keyed by back-to-back 3-pointers by freshman Ryan Krawczeniuk to go up 63-54 with just under eight minutes to play.

Shippensburg didn't fold, pulling to 63-61 with just over five minutes remaining and momentum seemed to swing the Raiders way when Joe Bell was charged with his fifth and disqualifying foul with three and a half minutes to go.

But the Mountaineers held their ground, getting back-to-back layups from Becoats and Krawczeniuk to extend the lead to 73-64 with 100 seconds remaining and connected on nine free throw for the remainder of the game to pull out the win.

Mansfield recorded a season-high 10 blocks in the game and dominated the boards 50-39. The Mountaineers also connected on eight 3-pointers, the most since hitting 10 3-pointers against Cheyney nine games ago.

Bell scored a game-high 24 points down seven rebounds. It marked the 10th time this season, and the fourth straight game, the junior has scored 20 or more points in a game. He moved past Rick Sabec (1,255 points, 1990-93) and Charlie Williams (1,267 points, 1968-71) into 10th place on the Mountaineers all-time scoring list with 1,278 points.

Becoats scored 17 points, pulled down eight rebounds and dished out seven assists while Krawczeniuk scored 12 points, nine of them in the second half. Charles Pemberton recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds while also blocking five shots.

Joe Lococo topped four Raiders in double-figures with 24 points, 13 of them coming from the free throw line.

Mansfield closes out the first half of the PSAC East season at Bloomsburg on Wednesday night.

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