Mounties Hold Off California Behind Carter's Game-High 21 Point

MANSFIELD – Malik Carter scored a game-high 21 points and Jahmir Green came up with a key rebound and steal in the final seconds as Mansfield held off California 73-70 in a PSAC crossover contest on First Citizens Community Bank Court in Decker Gymnasium Sunday afternoon.

The win was the Mountaineers first conference victory in two tries this season while improving their overall record to 3-2 on the year.

Mansfield scored the first five points of the game before California countered with an 8-0 run to take a 8-5 lead after the first four minutes of the contest.

It would be a bellwether of what the game would become.

Mansfield countered again, using a 21-7 run over the next 10 minutes, taking a 29-15 advantage on Carter's layup with just over eight minutes remaining in the first half.

California would use pinpoint outside shooting to shave the Mountaineers lead to 37-33 at halftime.

The Vulcans used a 11-2 run over the first two minutes of the second half to take a 44-39 advantage on a 3-pointer by Ramon Creighton.

Mansfield quickly put a run together of its own, retaking the lead 48-44 on a Carter layup and ensuing free throw followed by a 3-pointer by Gerasimos Koutoufas with 16 minutes remaining.

Mansfield held on to a thin led for most of the remainder of the game with California twice tying the score at 55-55 and 58-58 midway through the half.

A jumper by Jahyde Gaardiner put Mansfield up 67-52 with just under five minutes to play before California cut it to 67-66 with a little more than two minutes left with back-to-back buckets.

A Matt Tamanosky layup followed by a free throw by Andreas Katopodis gave Mansfield a four-point lead with just under two minutes to play before California cut it to a one-point game again on a 3-pointer by Daniel Sapp with 80 seconds remaining.

A steal by Cedrick Powell led to a layup by Gardiner giving Mansfield a 72-69 advantage with 36 remaining.

California missed two free throws with under 20 seconds remaining and fouled Tamanosky on the second missed rebound sending the junior to the line where he missed the first but hit the second after a California timeout to give Mansfield a 73-69 lead.

Tamanosky picked up his fifth foul seconds later and Cal cut the lead to three by making the first of two free throws.

Mansfield's Jahmir Green grabbed the rebound off the second missed shot and was immediately foul. Both of Green's free throws rolled out of the rim but he stole the ensuing inbounds pass with 2.9 second remaining to preserve the win.

California shot 50% from the floor including a blistering 48% (13-27) on its 3-point attempts. The Vulcans also head a 38-31 rebounding advantage.

Mansfield, which shot 42% from the floor, turned the ball over just seven times in the game while forcing 23 Vulcan turnovers. It marks the fewest number of turnover in a game for the Mountaineers since turning the ball over just five times in a 73-66 win at Bloomsburg in 2013.

Carter, who scored 21 points for the second straight day, also dissed out four assists and recorded a game-high three steals. Gardiner scored 17 points while pulling down four rebounds while Matt Tamanosky and Cedrick each had 10 points. Powell also dished out a game-high eight assists.

Luka Andjusic come off the bench to lead California with 18 points. With Tony Richardson adding 14 points. Half of California's 26 field goals came on 3-pointers.

Mansfield has a well-deserved 10-day break before traveling to Division I Binghamton on Nov. 30.