MANSFIELD – Nysir Marshburn scored a game-high 23 points and Ryan Bernstein dished out 14 assists as Mansfield held off one-loss Salem in an 83-78 thriller at Decker Gymnasium Wednesday night.
 
The win was the first of the career for Mountaineer head coach John Szentesy.
 
Mansfield (1-3, 0-0 PSAC) opened the game with intensity, jumping out to a 7-0 lead, before holding a 10-point advantage at 12-2. However, the Tigers used an 11-2 run of their own to pull with one point and eventually took its first lead of the game at 18-17. The Mountaineers would hold a lead for the majority of the half, but Salem (5-2) maintained a two-possession deficit throughout.
 
Five lead changes over the final five minutes of the half saw Salem with a 37-36 lead at the break.
 
Salem started the second half with intensity this time, as the Tigers' Christian Shaw hit back-to-back trifectas to lead 43-36. However, Mansfield countered with a 22-4 run over the next six minutes to hold another double-digit lead. The Mounties knocked down four treys during the run including two by Garrett Cook.
 
Mansfield would lead by as many as 16 points in the half when Bernstein splashed a triple with under nine minutes remaining. But, the Tigers would not go away quietly, using a 24-9 run to pull within a point of the Mounties with 3:38 to play.
 
After both sides traded buckets, Salem had the opportunity to take a late lead, but Marshburn came out of nowhere to steal a Tigers' pass and maintain momentum for the Mountaineers. Tyler Moffe and Marshburn each knocked down key free throws to give the Mounties a two-possession lead and seal the game.
 
Marshburn was 9-15 from the floor and 3-5 from beyond the arc to pace four Mounties in double-figure scoring. He was one rebound shy of a double-double and had three steals. Cook and Moffe each added 19 points in the win with Cook going 6-9 from deep. Moffe was a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line.
 
Bernstein totaled a season-best 14 assists in the game and was on the other end of all six of Cook's 3-pointers. The senior added seven points and three steals.
 
Salem was led by Kanayo Obi-Rapu's 21 points.
 
Mansfield connected on 48.3% (29-60) of shots including a red-hot 45.2% (14-31) from distance.
 
It marks the first win for Mansfield against Salem in just the second all-time meeting between the two programs dating back to 1980.
 
Mansfield continues a four-game home stand with games against Pitt-Johnstown and Gannon this weekend.