Short-Handed Mounties Lead Wire-to-Wire in 62-54 Win Over Millersville to Climb Back Into Playoff Picture
MANSFIELD –
Cedrick Powell topped four players in double-figures with a game-high 15 points to lead a short-handed Mansfield University squad to a 62-54 win over Millersville in a PSAC East contest Wednesday evening on First Citizens Community Bank Court in Decker Gymnasium.
Mansfield never trailed in the game, going on a 19-1 run over the first seven minutes before Millersville finally got untracked to close the gap to 33-28 at halftime.
Mansfield shot 60% from the floor in the first half with Powell scoring nine of his 15 points over the first 20 minutes. Millersville missed its first 11 shots from the floor before finally getting back into the game via the 3-ball. Five of the Marauders nine field goals in the first half come off 3-pointers.
Millersville made it a one-point game at 33-32 in the first minute of the second half before Mansfield countered with a 6-0 taking a 39-32 advantage two minutes later on a jumper by
Malik Carter.
Mansfield increased the lead to double-digits at 54-44 on a jumper by
Jahyde Gardiner with just over seven minutes remaining in the game, with Millersville closing to 58-54 on a layup by Jaardan Greene with 90 seconds to play.
The Mountaineers would hold the Marauders scoreless for the remainder of the game while getting layups from Powell and Carter to stretch the lead to 62-54.
Mansfield, playing without an injured starter and key reserve, shot 51% from the floor and held a 41-35 rebounding advantage while recording 10 steals. Millersville took 31 3-pointers in the game, connecting on nine of them.
In additions to Powell, who also had five assists, Gardiner and
Matt Tamanosky both scored 14 points and pulled down six and seven rebounds respectively. Carter added 10 points along with six rebounds and six assists.
Andreas Katopodis scored seven points while pulling down a game-best nine rebounds.
Conrad Chambers scored 15 points for Millersville with Marcus Adkison adding 10 points.
Mansfield improves to 6-10 in the PSAC East along with Millersville. They both trail Lock Haven by one- half game for the final PSAC playoff spot.
Mansfield host Cheyney this Saturday.
