Staying Alive – Bell Scores 13 Points in OT to Lift Mansfield to 84-79 win over Lock Haven

MANSFIELD – Joe Bell saved his best until last.

Bell shrugged off a tepid first 40 minutes, scoring 13 of Mansfield's 18 points in overtime to lift the Mountaineers to a thrilling 84-79 overtime win over Lock Haven in a crucial PSAC East game at Thomas Field House Saturday afternoon.

It was a must win for Mansfield, snapping a five-game losing streaking and keeping the Mountaineers playoff hopes alive with four games remaining in the regular season. A loss would have dropped Mansfield two games behind Lock Haven for the sixth and final playoff spot from the PSAC East.

Instead the win puts the Mountaineers ½ game behind the Bald Eagles and gives them the tie-breaker in any playoff scenario with the Bald Eagles after beating them both times this season.

"Everyone played hard," said head coach Rich Miller who recorded his 127th win tying him with Tom Ackerman as the second-winningest coach in Mountaineer history. "We made a determination to attack the rim in the second half and we did a good job of that by scoring inside and getting to the free throw line."

Bell, who scored a career-low 2 points in a tough 60-56 loss to Millersville on Wednesday night, scored just six points in the first half at Lock Haven and had only 10 points at the end of regulation.

The senior came alive in overtime, scoring the Mountaineers first six points in the extra period including hitting a 3-pointer a minute into OT to give Mansfield a 72-67 advantage.

Lock Haven closed to 72-70 on a 3-pointer by Al Blount before Andreas Katopodis put the Mountaineers up by five again with a 3-pointer at the two minute mark.

Lock Haven pulled to 75-74 on a layup by Bootsie Walker with 1:44 left but a pair of Bell free throws with a minute to go put Mansfield up 77-74. Lock Haven made it a one point game again 12 seconds later on a pair of free throws by Wali Hepburn.

Bell rose to the challenge one more time, drilling a 3-pointer with 31 seconds to play for a 80-76 Mansfield lead and the Mountaineer defense, despite missing starting point guard Thomas Moore who fouled out earlier in OT, held Lock Haven without of field goal for the last 1:44 of the game.

The contest was close throughout, featuring 23 ties or lead changes.

Lock Haven held a seven point lead early in the game and took a 34-29 advantage into halftime.

The Bald Eagles extend that advantage to 41-33 two-and-a-half minutes into the second half before Mansfield countered with a 14-1 run over the next five minutes taking a 47-42 lead on a layup and ensuing free throw by Kamil Parzych with just under thirteen minutes to play.

Mansfield held a 64-62 lead when Moore hit a jumper with 1:11 in regulation but four straight free throws by Hepburn put Lock Haven back into the lead at 66-64 with 31 seconds left.

Charles Pemberton hit a jumper 10 seconds later to tie the game at 66-66 and Hepburn missed a jumper at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

Mansfield was clutch in overtime connecting on 66.7% of its shots from the floor including 3-of-4 3-pointers – including two from Bell.

Bell's 23 points gives extends his career all-time scoring record to 1,858 points.  Pemberton recorded a double-double scoring 21 points and pulling down a game-best 14 rebounds while shooting 8-10 from the floor. Ralik Wise added 16 points and seven rebounds while Katopodis scored 11 points.

Hepburn led all scorers with a game-high 28 points for Lock Haven. He made just 5-of-19 from the floor but was 16-of-17 on free throw attempts. Bootsie Walker had a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Mansfield host Shippensburg on Wednesday evening.