Mounties Play Tough Against First Place West Chester

WEST CHESTER – Thomas Moore, Matt Tamanosky and Eric Lewis Jr. combined for 35 of Mansfield's 62 points but West Chester hit 24 free throws to Mansfield nine in holding off an upset bid by the Mountaineers with a 73-62 win in a PSAC East contest Saturday afternoon at Hollinger Fieldhouse.

Mansfield scored the game's first points on a layup by Tamanosky ten seconds after the tip and went up 4-0 seconds later on a layup by Ian Vazquez.

West Chester took a 10-9 lead five minutes in to the game. The Golden Rams would increase their advantage to 31-16 on a 3-pointer by Malik Jackson midway through the first period before the Mountaineers cut the lead to 39-29 at halftime.

Mansfield came out of intermission firing on all cylinders, using a 3-pointer by Moore to pull to 43-40 five minutes into the second half.

West Chester rallied, extending its lead 55-42 midway through the half before the never-say-quit Mounties countered with 10-3 run to close it to 58-52 on a 3-pointer by Gerasimos Koutoufas with seven minute to play.

West Chester would connect on just two field goals over the final seven minutes of the game but held on for the win from the free throw line.

Mansfield outshot West Chester 46%-39% from the floor and made more field goals (23-21) with each team connecting on seven 3-pointers. The difference in the game was at the free throw line where the Golden Rams connected on 24-of-41 attempts to Mansfield's 9-of-16.

Moore scored a team-high 13 points for the Mountaineers and dished four assists while pulling down six rebounds. Tamanosky went 5-of-7 from the floor for 11 points and just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. Eric Lewis Jr. also scored 11 points.

West Chester had five players scored in double-figures led by Jackson with 15 points. Matt Wiseley recorded a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Mansfield travels to Millersville Monday for a makeup game from earlier in the season.