PITTSBURGH – Jeremiah Worthem led three Mounties in double-figure scoring with a game-high 25 points and 12 rebounds as Mansfield overcame an 11-point deficit to stun Division I Duquesne 79-74 in an exhibition Saturday afternoon at the Palumbo Center.
 
"This is a good first look and helps us prepare for what really matters and that's conference play" explained head coach Pat Zipfel." With so many new faces it gave us a chance to play together against good competition".
 
Mansfield used a 13-2 run over the final four minutes of the game and took the lead for the final time on Worthem's jumper with 2:48 to play. Matt Tamanosky's lay-up at the 1:10 mark put the Mounties up 75-72, but Duquesne answered with a bucket at the other end to close within one point. Da'Quan Jones and Worthem hit 4-of-5 free throws in the final minute to lock up the win.
 
Worthem hit eight field goals, including a trifecta, and went 8-10 from the free throw line to net a game-high 25. He also pulled down eight defensive and four offensive rebounds for the double-double.
 
Malik Carter added 13 points and dished out five assists while Cedrick Powell recorded 12 points and eight boards. Jahyde Gardiner scored nine points despite fouling out of the game with just over 18 minutes to play in the second half.
 
Mike Lewis II led three Dukes in double-figure scoring with 16. Darius Lewis recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards and also had six blocks. Emile Blackman chipped in 12 points
 
The Mountaineers got off to a slow start as Duquesne quickly jumped out to an 11-3 lead before the first media timeout. The Dukes maintained an eight-point lead at 14-6 before Mansfield used an 8-0 run to tie the game at 14-14 with 11:36 to play.
 
The score would be tied up three more times before Jones' jumper at the 5:36 mark gave the Mounties their first lead of the game at 24-22. Mansfield led by as much as six points before going into halftime with a 35-33 lead.
 
In the second half, two quick fouls eliminating Gardiner from the game allowed Duquesne to gain some momentum and retake the lead. A small run gave the Dukes a 47-40 advantage before jumping out to their biggest lead of the game at 68-57 with 8:08 to play.
 
Mansfield held Duquesne to just three field goals over the final eight minutes to hold on for the historic win. It marks the first time in program history that Mansfield has beat a team from the Division I Atlantic-10 Conference.
 
The Mounties held a 42-33 rebounding advantage in the game and won the turnover battle 16-12.
 
Mansfield opens the regular season at Virginia State's Trojan Tip-Off Classic against St. Augustine's on Friday, Nov. 11.