KUTZTOWN – Despite a game-high 27-point effort by Malik Carter and a double-double from Da'Quan Jones, No. 9 ranked Kutztown rallied to tie the game in the final minutes of regulation and then held off upset-minded Mansfield in the last minute of overtime to escape with an 83-79 PSAC East win at Keystone Hall Wednesday night.

It marked the second time this season the nationally ranked Golden Bears defeated Mansfield in overtime winning a 91-88 overtime heartbreaker on a 3-point buzzer-beater at Decker Gymnasium three weeks ago.

Despite leading early, Mansfield trailed for much of the game including by double-digits 42-32 at the half.

Mansfield started a slow but steady rally in the second half, closing the gap to 49-44 five minutes into the half on a 3-pointer by Carter before tying the game at 49-49 on a Carter layup with just under 14 minutes remaining.

Matt Tamanosky would score on a layup moments later to give the Mountaineers their first lead since early in the game at 51-49.

Mansfield maintained a slim advantage until Kutztown's Ryan Connelly's layup with 2:53 put the Golden Bears back in the lead at 66-64.

Carter was sensational for the Mountaineers, hitting a driving layup and ensuing free throw to retake the lead than nailing a 3-pointer with 77 seconds remaining in regulation giving Mansfield a 70-66 advantage.

Kutztownss Ethan Ridgeway hit two free thwos and then added a coast-to-coast layup to tie the game at 70-70 with 46 seconds to go.

Neither team could score sending the game into overtime.

Less than 30 seconds after hitting a 3-point to give Mansfield a 73-70 lead in overtime, Mansfield's leading scorer Malik Carter was called for his fifth foul of the night and less than a minute later teammate Cedrick Powell also picked up his fifth foul sidelining the Mountaineers two starting guards.

Kutztown would use that advantage to take a 81-75 lead with 47 seconds to play in overtime but the Mountaineers didn't give in. Freshman Reilly Collins come off the bench to hit two quick layups to close to 81-79 with 24 seconds to go but Kutztown nailed two free throws to put the game out of reach.

Mansfield, which shot 58% from the floor in the second half, manage to connect on just 4-of-13 attempts in overtime.

Carter went 9-of17 from the floor including 3-4 on 3-pointers and 6-6 from the line before fouling out to score his game-high 27 points. Tamanosky was 7-9 from the floor in scoring his 16 points while Jones scored 11 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

Josh Johnson also recorded a double-double to lead Kutztown with 22 points and 11 rebounds.

Despite the loss, Mansfield remains in six place and the final playoff spot going into Saturday's game at nationally ranked Shippensburg.