Mounties Hold Off Cheyney behind Tamanosky and Vasquez

MANSFIELD – Matt Tamanosky and Ian Vasquez combined for 37 points to hold off Cheyney 69-65 in a PSAC East matchup Wednesday evening on First Citizens Community Bank Court in Decker Gymnasium.

Mansfield held a six point lead at halftime before Cheyney rallied to tie the game at 42-42 on a layup by Dikemba Amugo seven minutes into the second half.

The two teams battled back-and-forth with 16 lead changes or ties over the next 10 minutes.

Mansfield finally took a 64-62 advantage when Brad Williams hit a driving layup with 3:34 left to play. The Mountaineers maintained the lead, holding Cheyney without a field goal over the last 150 seconds.

Williams played a key role late in the game, pulling down a rebound with Mansfield holding a 68-65 lead with six seconds remaining. Williams was fouled on the play, making the first of two shots to give the Mountaineers a 69-65 lead with four second to go. Gerasimos Koutoufas got the rebound off Williams second shot to end the game.

The win snapped a nine-game losing skid for the Mountaineers.

Mansfield dialed up the long-ball, hitting eight 3-pointers to Cheyney's three and made 15 free throws to Cheyney's eight.

Tamanosky, who ranks second in the PSAC in shooting percentage, hit 7-of-8 shots from the floor and pulled down five rebounds. Vasquez was deadly from outside connecting on four 3-points for 16 points while dishing out four assists.

Juwan Mullen topped Cheyney with a game-high 23 points.

Mansfield hosts Lock Haven this Saturday.