FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Bell Scores Game-High 27 Points to Lead Mansfield Past Bloomsburg
 

MANSFIELD – Joe Bell put on a dominating performance scoring a game-high 27 points to lead Mansfield to a critical 91-81 win over Bloomsburg in a PSAC East contest Wednesday night on First Citizen Community Bank Court at Decker Gymnasium.

"A much needed win over a very athletic team," said head coach Rich Miller. "Joe Bell really took over the game at times but we got a much-need boost from Andreas Katopodis and Ralik Wise at critical spots in the game."

Mansfield held a 53-51 lead with fourteen minutes remaining in the game when Bell took over the contest scoring nine of Mansfield's next 16 points giving the Mountaineers a 69-59 advantage with 8:22 to go.

The Mountaineers held that double-digit lead for most of the rest of the game with Bloomsburg closing to nine points twice during the final 70 seconds.

Mansfield, which entered the game with the lowest free throw shooting percentage in the conference, was clutch hitting 14-of-16 shots from the line over the last eight minutes of the game.

Bell scored 14 points in the second half and just missed a double-double with nine rebounds while also dishing out five assists. Thomas Moore scored 20 points, hitting 6-of-10 from the floor including going 2-2 on 3-point attempts.

The senior now has 1,730 points in his career and needs just 36 points to move past Brett Longpre` (1765) in to second place on the all-time scoring list and 49 points to pass all-time leading scorer Tommy Harvey (1778).

Katopodis added 17 points including hitting all six free throws with Charles Pemberton adding 13 points.

The game featured 56 combined fouls and 84 free throws.

Alssene Saintilus led Bloomsburg with 19 points while Jon Riles and Charles Haigler scored 14 points apiece.

With the win, Mansfield moves into a tie with Millersville for fourth place in the PSAC East with a 5-7 divisional record and 7-9 overall mark and makes Miller one victory shy of tying Tom Ackerman for the second most coaching wins in school history with 127.

Mansfield has a bye this Saturday before traveling to PSAC East leading East Stroudsburg on Wednesday.