EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – Freshman Justice Smith because the second all-time single-season scorer in Mansfield University men's basketball history in the Mountaineers, 116-97 loss at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action on Wednesday night, Feb. 23.
 
Smith scored 26 points on 12-of-18 shooting, surpassing Mountaineer great Joe Bell (547) for second all-time for points in a single-season with 567. Smith added eight rebounds, six assists and a steal.

The rookie is averaging 29.2 points per game over his last nine games on his way to the top of the Mountaineer scoring list after already becoming the highest scoring freshman in program history.
 
The Mounties fell to 4-23 overall and 3-17 in the PSAC, while the Warriors improved to 18-7 overall and 16-5 in conference.
 
Sophomore Jaz Farrell finished behind Smith with 19 points on 50 percent shooting (7-of-14), while senior Eli Alvin added 13 points and sophomore Marcus Friend added a team-high five assists and four rebounds. Freshman Scott Woodring pulled in seven rebounds and dished out three assists, while freshman Manir Waller scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds.
 
The Mountaineers shot well from the field in the first half (22-of-40, 55 percent), but the Warriors matched MU's effort with a 53 percent mark from the floor, while knocking down two additional 3-pointers and five shots from the line to build a 62-51 lead heading into the break.
 
ESU extended their lead to 14 on their first attempt from deep in the second half, before leading by as much as 20 at the 17:31 mark. The Mounties cut the lead to 13 two more times over the next five minutes, but the Warriors continued to answer, extending their lead back to 20, 100-80 with 5:58 to go.
 
Despite the Mounties potent offense, the Warriors continued to match their efforts the rest of the way to close out the victory.
 
The Mounties continued to shoot well from the floor in the second half (17-of-34, 50 percent), but ESU was relentless with their 54 percent mark, including an additional five trifectas. The Warriors defense forced a game-high 18 turnovers compared to committing 13, while out-rebounding MU 46-37, including doubling the Mounties effort on the offensive glass.
 
Lakeem McAliley scored a game-high 29 points on an efficient 13-of-16 shooting while adding 11 rebounds for a double-double to lead ESU.
 
The Mounties will conclude their season on Saturday, Feb. 26 when they host Shepherd University on Senior Day.