BUFFALO, N.Y. – Idris Ali and Saraj Ali combined for 40 points to spark a second-half comeback for the Mansfield University men's basketball team in their season opener, but D'Youville College was able to hold on to steal an 83-80 victory on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 12.
 
The Mounties fall to 0-1 and the Saints improve to 1-0.
 
Returning from an injury that caused him to miss the second half of his freshman season, I. Ali poured in a team-high 27 points on an efficient 10-of-15 shooting to ignite the MU offense. Ali added four assists and five rebounds, while knocking down 3-of-4 shots from deep and 4-of-6 at the charity stripe. S. Ali scored all 13 of his points in the second half of his collegiate deput, while also dishing out five helpers and pulling in five rebounds.

Right on schedule, Scott Woodring answered the bell with his first double-double of the season, notching 13 points and 10 rebounds. Manir Waller rounded out the group of Mountaineers in double figures with 10 points. Jordan Montgomery led the second unit with nine points.
 
Trailing 37-26 out of the break, the Mounties erupted on a 9-0 run through the opening three minutes of the second half, led by seven points from I. Ali. However, the Saints countered with an 8-0 run of their own to regain a 44-37 lead with 16:05 to go.
 
The Saints extended their lead to double digits at the 13:19 mark and a back-and-forth ensuing 12 minutes resulted in D'Youville holding a 10-point lead, 75-65, with just over four minutes remaining.
 
However, S. Ali huge second half continued, and the Mountaineers did not go away. Down 10 under the four-minute mark, S. Ali drilled back-to-back jumpers to spark a 7-0 Mountie run to cut the deficit to five, 77-72, with 1:33 to go.
 
Both teams traded free throws on the next four possessions before a dunk by S. Ali put the Mounties within two scores, 82-78, with 30 seconds remaining.
 
I. Ali scored following a Saints' free throw to put the Mounties within three, but a missed MU trifecta as time expired secured the victory for D'Youville.
 
The Mounties outscored the Saints, 54-46, in the second half, but their 37-26 deficit in the first half proved to be the difference. After shooting 32 percent (9-of-28) from the floor in the first half, the Mounties shot a scorching 61 percent (19-of-31) in the second half to nearly mount the comeback. Mansfield doubled their free throw attempts in the second period, while knocking down 3-of-4 shots from deep.
 
Four different Saints scored in double figures, led by a team-high 21 points by Rod Johnson. Johnson knocked down all 10 free-throw attempts.
 
The Mounties host Roberts Wesleyan on Tuesday night, Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in non-conference action inside Decker Gym.