CALIFORNIA, Pa. – Malik Carter led a three-headed attack for Mansfield pouring in a game-high 31 points in an 81-67 PSAC crossover win at California (Pa.) on Sunday.
 
Division I transfer Jeremiah Worthem recorded 19 points and 10 rebounds in his debut with the Mountaineers with Matt Tamanosky adding 17 points.
 
California (3-2, 1-1 PSAC) went up early, but three quick lead changes capped by a Carter trifecta put the Mounties on top. Mansfield (1-2, 1-1 PSAC) held the advantage for the next four minutes until Isaiah Lewis converted an and-1 to regain the lead for the Vulcans with 12:41 remaining in the half.
 
California held a slim lead for the majority of the first half until, but the Mountaineers closed out the final two minutes on an 8-0 run to take a 43-38 advantage into halftime.
 
Carter provided much of the offense for Mansfield in the first half, connecting on five 3-pointers on his way to 20 points.
 
In the second half, the Vulcans maintained a two-possession deficit until a Worthem jumper put Mansfield ahead 56-49 at the 14:05 mark. The Mounties would use a 12-1 run over a five-minute span to jump out to their biggest lead of the game at 72-54.
 
California countered with an 11-0 run to cut the lead down to just seven points with over two minutes to play, but Mansfield finished strong to earn its first victory of the season.
 
Carter hit 30+ points in a game for the second time in his career at Mansfield, shooting 10-17 from the floor including 5-6 from beyond the arc. It marks the third straight game that Carter has pulled down eight or more rebounds. The senior also dished out five assists and had a steal.
 
Worthem knocked down six shots, including a trey, on his way to a double-double with Tamanosky going 8-13 from the field and pulling down eight boards. Jahmir Green had seven points and six rebounds in his fourth career start.
 
Jahmere Howze paced four Vulcans in double-figure scoring with 18 points and Terry Davis Jr. added 17 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
 
California, who was averaging 92.2 points a game entering Sunday, was held to its lowest point total of the year. Mansfield held a 41-37 advantage on the boards.
 
Mansfield complemented a five-point halftime lead by outscoring the Vulcans 38-29 in the second half.
 
The Mountaineers will take a 10-day break before hosting Roberts Wesleyan for the home opener at Decker Gymnasium on Wednesday, Nov. 29.