FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mounties Host Cheyney in PSAC East Home Opener Saturday

MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University men's basketball team will return home to the friendly confines of Decker Gymnasium this Saturday when the Mountaineers host the Wolves of Cheyney University in a PSAC East matchup.

Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. with a link for the live audio broadcast by Doug Page of ESPN Radio Williamsport as well as live stats available at GoMounties.com.

Mansfield is coming off a frustrating 71-62 loss at Kutztown on Wednesday night. The Mountaineers, who trailed by 18 points late in the first half and by 17 points in the second half, rallied to close to within four points late in the game but poor free throw shooting thwarted their comeback attempt. Joe Bell, Andreas Katopodis and Charles Pemberton scored 13 points each but the Mountaineers hit just 7-of-22 free throws as a team.

Cheyney also suffered a loss in their conference opener dropping a 97-87 decision at home to Bloomsburg to fall to 1-2 on the season. The Wolves fell 67-64 to Fayetteville State in their season opener before beating St. Augustine's 69-63.

Mansfield ranks sixth in the PSAC in scoring averaging 81.0 points per game and ninth in scoring defense giving up an average of 66.5 points per outing. The Mountaineers are the second-best rebounding team and have the second-best turnover marking in the conference but rank last in free throw percentage hitting just 43.3% of their shots from the charity line.

Pemberton ranks seventh in the PSAC in scoring (17.0 ppg) and 13th in rebounding (8.0 rpg) and is third in the conference in shooting percentage (68.2%).

Joe Bell is 14th in the PSAC in scoring at 16.0 points per game while Ralik Wise ranks 9th in rebounding (8.5 rpg).

Cheyney is 12th in the conference in scoring after three games averaging 73.3 points per game and ranks 15th in scoring defense (75.7 ppg).

The Wolves have a strong outside game ranking second in the PSAC in 3-point field goals made per game at 11.0.

Freshman Kevin Larkin is off to a fast start in his collegiate career averaging 19.0 points over his first three games and ranking as the top 3-point shooter in the PSAC. Junior Jarrod Johnson also ranks among the conference top scorers averaging 14.3 points per outing and 6.3 boards per game.

Mansfield host Le Moyne in a non-conference tilt on Tuesday.