FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Pemberton and Bell Combine for 48 Points to Lead Mansfield Past Regionally Ranked Slippery Rock

MANSFIELD – Seniors Charles Pemberton and Joe Bell combined for 48 points to lead Mansfield to a convincing 82-72 win over regionally ranked Slippery Rock in a PSAC crossover contest Saturday afternoon on First Citizens Community Bank Court.

"We changed things up a bit today and it paid off," said head coach Rich Miller. "Getting Thomas (Moore) back from his injury gave us a spark and allowed us to do things we haven't been able to do for a while."

Moore, who saw the court for the first time since being injured after the fourth game of the season, was a difference maker for the Mountaineers in the impressive win. Moore scored a season-best 19 points, hitting 5-of-7 3-point attempts while dishing out nine assists.

The win snapped the Mountaineers four game losing-streak while at the same time ending Slippery Rock's, ranked 4th in the latest D2SID Atlantic Region poll, PSAC best six game winning-streak.

Mansfield (5-7, 3-5 PSAC) never trailed in the contest, jumping out to 7-0 lead on a layup by Pemberton less than three minutes into the game and closed out the first half on a 6-0 run to take a 36-24 advantage into halftime.

The Mountaineers withstood numerous Slippery Rock runs in the second half, extending their lead to 61-46 on Moore's fifth 3-pointer of the afternoon with eight minutes remaining in the game.
Slippery Rock (9-3, 5-2 PSAC) closed the gap to 61-56 on a pair of free throws by Jamal Gatali three minutes later and were six points down a minute afterwards when Bell closed the door with a 3-pointer to put the Mountaineers up 67-58.

A layup by Pemberton and ensuing free throw locked down the win putting the Mountaineers up 70-60 with 2:44 to go. Mansfield effectively broke Slippery Rock's full-court press scoring four layups over the final two minutes.

Pemberton scored a season and career-high 28 points, hitting 11-of-15 shots from the floor and just missed a double-double with a game-high nine rebounds. Bell added 20 points including 13 in the second half while nailing four 3-pointers and pulling down seven boards. Freshman Andreas Katopodis added 10 points.

Antonio Butler scored 25 points to lead four Slippery Rock players in double-figures. Cornelius Brown scored 13 points with Malcom Richardson adding 12 points and Kelvin Goodwin 11 points.

Mansfield hit a season-best 11 3-pointers and shot 51.9% from the floor including 57.9% on 3-pointers. The Mountaineers also had 21 assists, the most this year against a NCAA Division II opponent.

Mansfield host Edinboro Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. on First Citizens Community Bank Court in Decker Gymnasium.