FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mansfield Falls on Road to PSAC East-Leading Warriors 101-90
 
EAST STROUDSBURG – Joe Bell moved closer to the Mansfield all-time scoring title with a team-high 21 points, but division-leading East Stroudsburg triumphed with a 101-90 victory Wednesday night at Koehler Fieldhouse.
 
Bell hit 10 field goals in the game to lead four Mountaineers in double-figure scoring. With 1,751 career points, Bell is now just 15 points from passing Brett Longpre' (2000-04) for second in program scoring and 28 points from passing Tommy Harvey (1997-2000) as the all-time leading scorer.
 
Thomas Moore scored 16 for Mansfield (7-10, 5-8 PSAC) while Da'Quan Jones and Ralik Wise each added 14 points apiece.
 
East Stroudsburg (12-5, 10-3 PSAC) was paced offensively by Lamont Tillery who connected on four treys on his way to a game-high 22 points. Jamal Nwaniewmeka added 16 points, Whis Grant 14 and Rasheed Moore 13. Steve Harris and Matt Tobin added 12 and 11 points respectively.
 
Bell opened the game with a steal and a jumper, but East Stroudsburg was hot to start the half, jumping out to a 9-4 lead over the first three minutes of action. The Warriors continued to build their lead, holding an 18-6 advantage at the 14:55 mark.
 
A Wise lay-up brought the Mountaineers' deficit to 21-12 with 12:27 remaining in the half, but over the next four minutes, ESU used a 13-4 run to jump out to an 18-point lead. The Warriors led by as many as 21 points in the half before going into halftime with a 55-37 advantage.
 
Mansfield opened the second half with a 9-2 run to close within 11 points, but the Warriors again jumped out to a 21-point advantage at 72-51 at the 14:14 mark. East Stroudsburg maintained a sizeable lead, winning by as many as 26 points, but the Mountaineers would not go away quietly.
 
Trailing by 26 points with 6:11 to play in the game, Mansfield fought back with an 18-3 run to close within 97-86 as just 44 seconds remained on the game clock. The Mountaineers would bring its deficit down to nine points but the comeback was too late.
 
Mansfield shot 55.6% (35-63) from the floor, including 6-of-10 shooting from 3-point. The Mountaineers were hampered by free throw shooting at 60.9% (14-23). In comparison, ESU connected on 83.3% (25-30) of its free throw attempts in the game.
 
The Warriors capitalized on Mansfield's 27 turnovers scoring 36 points off takeaways.
 
The Mountaineers return home to host West Chester on Saturday for Hooping for a Cure sponsored by First Citizens Community Bank. Free tickets to Saturday's games are available at all Tioga County First Citizens branch locations.