Bloom Rallies in Final Minutes to Pull Out 81-77 Win over Mounties

MANSFIELD – Bloomsburg used a 10-0 run over the final two minutes of the game to pull out an 81-77 win over Mansfield in a critical PSAC East contest Wednesday evening on First Citizens Community Bank Court in Decker Gymnasium.

Mansfield trailed 71-67 with just over six minutes to play when the Mountaineers used a 10-0 run, started by a 3-pointer by Andreas Katopodis and ending with a Matt Tamanosky free throw, to take a 77-71 advantage with just over two minutes to play.

Seconds later, Bloomsburg's Christian Mortellite hit his ninth 3-pointer of the evening to close the gap to 77-74 and the Huskies would score the game's last seven points to lock up the victory.

A Cedrick Powell 3-pointer spun out of the cylinder with forty seconds remaining and another 3-pointer by Katopodis rolled off the rim with four seconds on the clock.

Mansfield held a 35-26 rebounding advantage ad turned the ball over just eight times but couldn't match Bloomsburg's 11-of-22 performance on 3-pointers.

Tamanoksy recorded a double-double to lead the Mountaineers scoring 22 points and pulling down 15 rebounds. Malik Carter had 21 points while Jahyde Gardiner added 14 points.

Mortellite scored a career-high 39 points for Bloomsburg hitting 9-of-15 three-pointers while Carnell McGirt scored 14 points.

The loss drops Mansfield one-half a game behind Lock Haven and Millersville for the sixth and final playoff spot in the PSAC East.

Mansfield hosts Alfred State in a non-conference game Saturday afternoon before traveling to Lock Haven on Wednesday.