MILLERSVILLE – Mansfield scored 10 unanswered in the final minutes of the game to pull within one point, but Millersville held off the late surge to escape with a 71-68 win Friday night in the PSAC East opener for both teams.
 
Mansfield's (4-5, 2-4 PSAC) Malik Carter scored the game's opening points before Jon Lott answered with a 3-pointer on the other end of the court to give Millersville (5-4, 4-2 PSAC) what would prove to be its only lead of the first half. The Mountaineers got back on top and built up to their biggest lead so far in the game at 13-7 with 13:50 to play. However, Millersville used a 6-0 run to even the score.
 
Mansfield jumped out to another lead at 22-15, but the Marauders rallied again to tie the score at 22-22 with just over five minutes to play. The Mounties ended the half leading 33-29.
 
A Tamanosky lay-up opened the second half to give Mansfield a six-point advantage. Millersville pulled within one point twice before another Lott trifecta gave the Marauders their first lead since early in the first half. Millersville climbed to the biggest lead of the game at 11 points four times with the last coming with just over three minutes to play in the game.
 
Facing an 11-point deficit late in the game, Mansfield did not go away quietly as Cedrick Powell connected on four throws and Malik Carter scored a lay-up and hit a free throw before Jahyde Gardiner knocked down a timely 3-pointer to cap a late 10-0 rally. Millersville ended their scoreless drought with a lay-up with 19 second to play to make it 71-68. Gardiner's potential game-tying trey fell short as Mansfield dropped the divisional match-up.
 
Tamanosky led four Mounties in double-figure scoring with 16 points on 8-13 shooting from the floor. Carter recorded 15 points and was just shy of a double-double with nine rebounds. Gardiner added 13 points with Powell scoring 10 points to go along with six rebounds and six assists.
 
Jordan Greene came off the bench to score a game-high 21 points for Millersville. Conrad Chambers added 18 points.
 
Mansfield held a 37-30 rebounding advantage in the game.
 
The Mountaineers host West Chester at First Citizens Community Bank Court at Decker Gymnasium on Tuesday.