MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – The Mansfield Mountaineers men's basketball team (1-1) competed in the second day of the Ron Wilson '79 Classic, hosted by Millersville University as the Mounties downed Livingstone College (0-2) by a score of 60-56, as the Mounties stopped the Blue Bears in the final seconds to secure their first victory of the season.
Three players scored double figures as Scott Woodring dropped 14, Manir Waller grabbed 11, and Saraj Ali picked up ten points.
Michael Dickson had a notable performance with eight points, six rebounds, and two steals.
Diarmid Stewart put on a show in his collegiate debut, posting seven points and six rebounds.
As the two teams exchanged early buckets, Mansfield took an early lead through the first half, posting ten points in three minutes, including four points each from Woodring and Waller to take a 16-11 lead.
The Mounties kept the pressure and dominated the glass to finish off the first half. Storming out to a double-digit lead at 26-16, Mansfield pushed out a 10-2 run in the final five minutes, with Ali dropping six in the quick time.
Behind ten points by Ali and eight points from Woodring, the Mounties held a 39-24 lead at halftime without even needing a three-point field goal.
Mansfield's dominant start showed in the stats, picking up 27 rebounds, including ten offensive rebounds, and six steals, while holding the opponent to just 28.6% shooting in the first half.
Livingstone found their groove to start the second half, posting a 13-2 run to collapse the Mountaineer lead to just four.
After Jordan Montgomery found the first field goal beyond the arc for Mansfield, the team held a 51-41 lead going into the final ten minutes.
The Blue Bears dropped ten of the next 13 points to scare the Mounties as a 54-51 lead with under three minutes left gave Livingstone a chance to secure their first win of the season.
With under a minute remaining, the opponent tied the game up at 56, but crucial fouls gave Mansfield four free throws and coach John Szentesy's gameplan finished off the opponent to secure their first win of the season, 60-56.
Mansfield ended up with 43 rebounds on day, the most in fifteen games, dating back to last season.
UP NEXT:
The Mounties head Penn State Schuylkill on Friday, November 17. This non-conference action is set to tip off at 8:00 p.m.
