Mounties Push East Stroudsburg to Limits

MANSFIELD – Matt Tamanosky scored a game-high 19 points and Mansfield held PSAC scoring leader East Stroudsburg to a season-low 65 points but it wasn't enough as the Mountaineers dropped a 65-59 decision in a PSAC East contest Wednesday evening on First Citizens Community Bank Court in Decker Gymnasium.

Mansfield, which ranked last in the PSAC in scoring defense allowing a conference-most 86 points per game, held East Stroudsburg – which led the conference in scoring averaging 89.5 points per game coming into the contest, to just 15 points over the first 16 minutes of the game.

The Mountaineers held a 17-14 advantage with just over five minutes remaining in the half after a layup by Tamanosky before East Stroudsburg closed out the half on a 15-6 run to take a 29-23 lead into halftime.

The lead remained in single digits throughout the first five minutes of the second half before East Stroudsburg started to slowly but steadily pull away taking a game-high 16 point advantage at 43-27 on a jumper by Quindell Brice with just under 14 minutes to play.

Mansfield, which lost to East Stroudsburg by 40 points earlier in the season, didn't fold, rallying from a 50-36 deficit to cut the lead to 52-45 on a 9-2 run capped off by a Seth Chisholm 3-pointer with seven minutes remaining.

Mansfield still trailed by seven points with 48 seconds remaining after a 3-pointer by Andreas Katopodis but couldn't overcome the gap.

The Mountaineers had the advantage in field goals made (25-23), three-point field goals (6-3) and rebounds (36-29) but East Stroudsburg made 16 free throws to Mansfield's 3.

Tamanosky, who leads the PSAC in field goal accuracy, connected on 9-of-12 attempts from the floor in scoring his game-best 19 points and also pulled down six rebounds. Thomas Moore added 14 points and dished out a game-high six assists.

Jamal Nwaniemeka topped three East Stroudsburg players in double-figures with 17 points. Quindell Brice added 11 points and Rasheed Moore totaled 10 points.

Mansfield hosts Kutztown this Saturday for Senior Day.