ESPN Radio | Live Stats | Game Notes (.PDF)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mounties Host No. 6 IUP and Seton Hill to Start 2014

MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University men's basketball team will start off 2014 with a stiff challenge when the Mountaineers host Indiana University of Pennsylvania in a PSAC crossover contest on First Citizens Court at Decker Gymnasium in a rare Friday afternoon game.

Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. with free admission offered for Friday's contest as well as for Saturday's home matchup with PSAC newcomer Seton Hill, courtesy of the MU Athletic Corporate Sponsors. The games will be broadcast live by ESPN Radio Williamsport and streamed live, along with live stats, at GoMounties.com.

Head coach Rich Miller hopes his physically battered team returns to some semblance of health after a 12 day break. Mansfield hasn't played since dropping a 91-74 decision to Pitt-Johnstown on Dec. 21.

The Mountaineers have been hampered by injuries all season long, using eight different starting lineups in the first 11 games of the season.
The Mounties sole bright spots so far this season has been the play of juniors Joe Bell and Charles Pemberton. Bell, the reigning PSAC East Player of the Week, ranks 4th in the PSAC in scoring averaging 20.0 points per game. He is 10th in rebounding at 7.1 boards per outing.

Pemberton is averaging 11.6 points per outing and is the most accurate shooter in the PSAC hitting a remarkable 66.7% of his attempts. He also ranks 3rd in the conference in blocked shots.

IUP is ranked No. 6 in the nation in the latest NCAA Division II poll. The Crimson Hawks are undefeated in 10 games this year including a convincing 88-56 victory at Kutztown on Dec. 21.

The international flavored Crimson Hawks are led by Kieta Mathis (France) and Marcel Souberbielle (Uruguay) who rank 6th and 12th in the conference respectively in scoring averaging 18.5 and 16.5 points per game respectively.

Seton Hill is 8-3 in its inaugural season in the PSAC after edging Shippensburg 82-80 on Dec. 21 with seven of those games decided by five or less points including a 56-54 setback to IUP earlier in the season.

The Griffins are led by a pair of seniors in Malachi Leonard and Max Kenyi. Leonard is the leading rebounder in the PSAC averaging 10.1 boards per game while also ranking 10th in the conference in scoring (17.8 ppg). Kenyi is averaging 13.1 points per game.