MANSFIELD, Pa. – The Mansfield University men's basketball team cut a second-half double-figure deficit to two points with a minute remaining, but Alliance University staged off the comeback to escape Decker Gymnasium with a 68-63 non-conference victory on Saturday night, Nov. 19.
 
The Mountaineers fall to 1-2 overall and Alliance improves to 4-1.
 
Idris Ali led four Mountaineers in double figures with 17 points on an efficient 8-of-10 shooting, while pulling in five rebounds and dishing out three assist. Manir Waller notched his second straight double-double, finishing with 10 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Gabe Perez knocked down 3-of-4 triples for 11 points, while Saraj Ali added 16 points and six rebounds.
 
The Mountaineers shot a cold 34 percent (10-of-29) from the floor and 33 percent from the charity stripe in the first half to dig themselves a 37-267 hole heading into the break. Alliance shot 50 percent (14-of-28) from the field and 83 percent at the line to build their advantage.
 
The Mountaineers scored the first bucket of the second half and went on to cut the lead to single-digits nine different times over the opening ten minutes, before five straight points from S. Ali cut the MU deficit to 58-52 with 4:31 to go.
 
Both teams traded baskets on the next two possessions before Perez drilled his third three of the night to trim the deficit to 65-59 with 1:26 remaining.
 
Down six with 1:28 on the clock, Waller drilled a shifty step-back jumper and a Michael Dickson steal and 2-of-2 trip to the line cut the MU deficit to 65-63.
 
After a pair of empty trips, Alliance missed the back half of a one-and-one and MU went coast-to-coast, but a good look at a 3-pointer rimmed out with a second remaining on the clock. Alliance knocked down a pair of free throws to close out the contest.
 
The Mountaineers improved their shooting to 41 percent in the second half, while going a perfect 6-of-6 at the line, but the first half hole proved to be too much.
 
Isayas Aris led the way for Alliance with a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double.
 
The Mounties open Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action on Friday, Dec. 2 when they host Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in crossover play at 7:30 p.m. inside Decker Gym.