FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Katopodis Hits Game-Winner with 1.7 Seconds Remaining to Lift Mansfield to 63-60 win over Le Moyne

MANSFIELD – Freshman Andreas Katopodis hit a 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left to lift Mansfield to a thrilling 63-60 win over previously undefeated Le Moyne on First Citizens Community Bank Court at Decker Gymnasium Tuesday evening.

"A great win over a very good team," said head coach Rich Miller. "We played unselfishly tonight and we played defensely. The last shot wasn't what was drawn up by it was what was open and our guys did a good job of recognizing that."

Katopodis, who reentered the game when guard Thomas Moore was called for his fifth and disqualifying foul with 22 seconds remaining, pump-faked from right corner and swished the shot with 1.7 seconds left.

Le Moyne did get off a final shot at the buzzer but the attempt fell well short of the rim as time expired.

While the game was won on an offensive shot, the outcome was determined by a strong Mansfield defensive effort, especially in the second half.

The Mountaineers trailed 34-26 at halftime before outscoring Le Moyne 16-7 over the first six minutes of the second half to take their first lead of the game at 42-41 on a Joe Bell jumper.

Mansfield allowed Le Moyne to score just three points over a seven minute stretch and took a 51-46 advantage on another Joe Bell jumper with just under seven minutes to go.

Le Moyne rallied, tying the game at 53-53 on a pair of free throws by Qwadere Lovell with four minutes to play but Mansfield counted going on a 7-2 run to hold a 60-55 lead on a free throw by Charles Pemberton with 29 second remaining.

Le Moyne tied the game 12 seconds later on three free throws by Nate Gause before Katopodis nailed the winning shot.

Joe Bell scored a game-high 23 points and moved into fourth place on the Mountaineers all-time scoring list passing Louis Judson (1521 points; 1994-97) with 1537 points.

Charles Pemberton added 15 points and just missed a double-double with nine rebounds.

Qwadere Lovell led Le Moyne with 22 points while the Mountaineers held Nate Gause, the Northeast-10 leading scorer, to 13 points – 14 shy of his season average.

Mansfield improves to 3-1 overall and travels to Franklin Pierce on Sunday.