FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mansfield Lead Slips Away in Final Minutes in 72-70 Heartbreaker to Cal

MANSFIELD – Joe Bell scored a game-high 24 points and freshman Da 'Quan Jones added his first career double-double but California outscored Mansfield 6-0 over the final two minutes to hand the Mountaineers a heartbreaking 72-70 in a PSAC crossover contest Saturday afternoon on First Citizens Community Bank Court in Decker Gymnasium.

"They made plays at the end of the game and we didn't," said a dejected head coach Rich Miller. "We just didn't execute offensively in our last couple of possessions and you can't do that and expect to win close games."

The game featured a series of runs by both teams.

Mansfield, which trailed 30-21 with just under three minutes remaining in the first half, used a 9-2 run to close to 32-30 at halftime.

California (8-4, 4-3 PSAC) extended its lead to 39-32 in the first two minutes of the second half before the Mountaineers rallied, taking a 43-41 advantage three minutes later on a layup by Bell and ensuing free throw.

Mansfield increased its lead to 52-43 on a layup by Charles Pemberton with thirteen minutes to play and was up 68-62 on a layup by Ralik Wise with four minutes remaining.

Cal closed to 68-66 a minute later on a layup by Kahalil Jabbie and in what would be the most critical play of game, Bell, who made the basket, was called for an offensive foul – his fifth of the game – with just two and a half minutes to play.

A jumper by Jones at the 1:58 mark gave Mansfield a 70-66 lead but that would prove to be the last points of the game for the Mountaineers.

Mansfield turned the ball over on its next three possessions while California took a 71-70 lead on a Jabbie jumper with 27 seconds on the clock and added another point on a free throw by Drew Cook with six seconds to go.

Out of timeouts, the Mountaineers still had one chance to take the lead or tie the game but Jones's 3-pointer as time expired rolled off the rim.

Jones was sensational in the first collegiate start of his career scoring 19 points and pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds while dishing out four assists and recording four steals.

Bell looked like his old self after struggling through injuries in recent games. The senior moved past Chris Venning (1624 – 1983-86) into third place on the Mountaineers all-time scoring list with 1626 points after hitting 9-of-14 from the floor and pulling down six rebounds. Ralik Wised added 10 points, six rebounds and blocked three shots.

Jabbie topped three California players in double figures with 24 points. Jake Jacubec added 17 points and Richard Smith 10.

Mansfield closes out the 2014 portion of its schedule by hosting Lincoln in a non-conference game starting at 3 p.m. at Decker Gymnasium.