FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mounties Fall in OT Thriller

MILLERSVILLE – Charles Pemberton recorded a double-double and Joe Bell and Andreas Katopodis scored 16 points each but Millersville used the free throw line to pull out a 74-69 overtime win over Mansfield in a PSAC East matchup Wednesday evening.

In a thrill-a-minute pace that featured nine lead changes over the final five minutes of regulation, Millersville connected on 23-of-28 free throws and went 9-30 on 3-pointers to outlast the Mountaineers for the win.

Mansfield trailed 5-0 early and didn't take its first lead of the game until Katopodis hit a 3-pointer to put the Mountaineers up 47-45 six minutes into the second half.

Millersville (4-4, 1-2 PSAC East) tied the game 65-65 on a layup by Eddie Callender with 1:32 remaining in regulation. Bell was fouled with 55 seconds to go but missed the front end of a 1-1. Millersville missed two layups- the last with two seconds left -  and Mansfield wouldn't get another shot as time expired sending the game into overtime.

Millersville got on the board first in overtime with Williams hitting a 3-pointer and Callender a jumper giving the Marauders a 70-65 lead two minutes into overtime. Ralik Wise hit one of two free throws with 1:24 remaining to cut the lead to 70-66.

A free throw by Williams with 32 seconds remaining increased the lead to 71-66 but a 3-pointer by Katopodis seven seconds later put Mansfield back to a one-possession game at 71-69.

But Millersville hit 3-of-4 free throws in the final 19 seconds, including two by Tyree Smith with four seconds remaining to ice the game. Mansfield was plagued by foul trouble all early and often in the second half, being whistled for six fouls before Millersville was called for one.

The Marauders went into a bonus situation with just under 10 minutes to play in regulation and enjoyed a double-bonus at the free throw line for the last nine minutes of the game.

The Marauders used their opportunities from the line to connect on 13-of-16 free throws in the second half and overtime.

Pemberton, who is  the current PSAC East Player of the Week, was almost unstoppable making 9-11 attempts from the floor and connecting on 3-of-4 free throws while pull down a game-high 12 rebounds while scoring a game-best 21 points. It marked his second double-double in a row.

Bell just missed a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds while Katopodis hit three of Mansfield's four 3-pointers on the night on his way to 16 points.

Eddie Callender topped four Millersville players in double-figures with 15 points and also recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds.

Mansfield (3-3, 1-2 PSAC East) host Lock Haven in a key PSAC East doubleheader this Saturday afternoon at First Citizens Community Bank Court in Decker Gymnasium.