MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - The Mansfield Mountaineers men's basketball team (0-1) falls in back and fourth season opener against Virginia Union University (1-2).
Manir Waller led the Mountaineers with 13 points on 4-8 shooting and 5-6 from the free throw line.
Saraj Ali added another 12 for the Mounties, pulled in a team-high nine rebounds, and swatted two shots.
S. Ali got the first points of the season for the Mountaineers just 15 seconds into the game as Mansfield started quickly.
The Mountaineers and Panthers went basket for basket most of the first half with neither team being able to stretch their lead above five points.
Mansfield and Virginia Union exchanged the lead a total of six times before the end of the first half where the Panthers went into the break clinging to a 30-29 advantage.
The Mounties' largest lead in the game came with just over 13 minutes left as Waller made two free throws to make it 41-37.
Just two minutes later, the Panthers were able to tie the game at 41 thanks to a Josiah Freeman jump shot.
The Virginia Union University Panthers were able to gain the lead with over 10 minutes to go and keep that lead until the end of the game.
Mansfield finished the game shooting 37.3% (19-51) from the field, and 21.7% (5-23) from the three-point line. The Mounties were able to win the free throw battle knocking down 81% of their opportunities at the line compared to the 73.3% of the Panthers.
UP NEXT:
The Mountaineers look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon against Livingstone College. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
