ETTRICK, Va. – Jahyde Gardiner tipped-in a missed lay-up with three seconds remaining to give Mansfield an incredible 49-48 win over defending CIAA Champion Virginia State Saturday night in the VSU Tip-Off Classic.
 
"We followed our game plan to a tee and it paid off" explained head coach Pat Zipfel. "It was a great win for us in a tough place to play."
 
Matt Tamanosky was 7-of-10 from the floor on his way to a game-high 17 points to lead three Mounties in double-figure scoring. Gardiner recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards while Malik Carter chipped in 12. Carter and Cedrick Powell each dished out four assists.
 
Virginia State was led by Kevin William's 16 points with Elijah Moore adding 10.
 
Mansfield (1-1, 0-0 PSAC) jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead over the first four minutes of the game, but Virginia State (1-1, 0-0 CIAA) fought back to close within one point at 11-10. The Mounties used an 8-0 run capped by Carter's fast break lay-up to jump ahead of the Trojans and hold its biggest lead of the half at 13 points twice before halftime.
 
Mansfield took a 32-20 advantage into the break.
 
In the second half, Mansfield continued to roll, building a 17-point lead, but the Trojans used a huge momentum swing and a 15-0 run to close within two points at 39-37 at the midway point of the half.
 
Virginia State tied the game at 42-42 with 6:10 to play before taking its first lead of the game on Moore's trey. A Williams bucket with 3:38 to play put the Trojans up 48-42, but Mansfield would hold its opponent scoreless throughout the remainder of the game.
 
Tamanosky's lay-up brought it within four points before Gardiner hit the front end of a 1-and-1. Another Tamanosky lay-up put Mansfield within one point at 48-47 with just under a minute to play allowing Gardiner to score the game winner with seconds remaining.

Virginia State got the ball with three seconds left on the clock and had to go the full distance of the court, but the potential game-winning shot was off target.
 
The Trojans held a 46-34 rebounding advantage including pulling down 19 offensive boards.
 
Virginia State received votes in in the preseason national coaches poll and are ranked third in the Atlantic Region. The Trojans defeated Division I Norfolk State the same day that Mansfield upset Division I Duquesne last Saturday.
 
Mansfield travels to Penn State Brandywine on Tuesday.