MANSFIELD, Pa. – Idris Ali knocked down a runner with four seconds remaining to propel the Mansfield University men's basketball team to a 75-71 come-from-behind victory over non-conference opponent Roberts Wesleyan College in front of an electric Decker Gymnasium crowd on Tuesday night, Nov. 15.
 
Clawing their way back from a 14-point first-half deficit, the Mounties knotted the game at 67-67 thanks to a trifecta by Saraj Ali with 4:23 to go.
 
Roberts Wesleyan extended their lead back to four with just over three minutes remaining, but back-to-back layups in transition by Scott Woodring and I. Ali tied it back up at 71-71 with 1:15 to go.
 
Neither team found the bottom of the net over the next minute and a steal by S. Ali gave the Mounties the ball with 17 seconds remaining. MU advanced the ball from the backcourt and I. Ali found an opening before pulling up from just outside the paint to drill the game winner.
 
I. Ali drilled a pair of free throws with a second left in regulation to round out the scoring and seal the victory.
 
The backend of the second half featured eight lead changes and six ties until the Mounties took control in the final two minutes.
 
Woodring led five Mountaineers in double figures with a game-high 17 points, finishing 5-of-6 from the floor and 6-of-8 at the charity stripe. Manir Waller notched his first double-double of the season, finishing with 10 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, while I. Ali and Gabe Perez added 12 and 10 points, respectively. Waller, Woodring (five) and S. Ali (five) led the Mountaineers in rebounding.
 
In the first half, deadlocked at 20-20 through the opening 10 minutes, the Redhawks took control, erupting on a 17-3 run over the ensueing six minutes to take their largest lead of the night, 37-23. However, the Mounties continued to claw as they did all night, ending the half on a 14-7 run to trim the lead to 43-34 heading into the break.
 
Defense was the story during the Mountaineers' comeback. After allowing Roberts Wesleyan to shoot 44 percent (17-of-39) in the first half, MU held the Redhawks to 28 percent (10-of-35) from the field in the second half to spark their run. The Mounties also took advantage of their opportunities at the charity stripe, finishing 20-of-25, compared to the Redhawks' 7-of-11.
 
For the Redhawks, Rian Carter finished with a team-high 12 points and Demani Smith added 10 points and four rebounds to lead the way.
 
The Mounties host Alliance University on Saturday night, Nov. 19 in Decker Gymnasium at 7:30 p.m. in non-conference action.