MANSFIELD, Pa. – The Mansfield University men's basketball team (5-18, 4-15 PSAC) stormed from behind in the second half to force overtime with Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division leader Shippensburg University, but the Raiders were able to hold on, 80-79, to escape Decker Gymnasium with a victory on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 11.
 
Tied 69-69 at the end of regulation, the Mounties stormed out to a 74-69 lead through the opening two minutes of overtime thanks to a 6-0 run ignited by back-to-back 3-point plays by Saraj Ali and Jordan Montgomery.
 
However, Shippensburg answered with a 7-0 run of their own over the next 30 seconds to take their first lead of the free period, 76-75, with three minutes remaining. The Raiders capitalized on two Mountie turnovers during the run.
 
Both teams traded baskets over the next three possessions before Shippensburg tipped in a layup to regain the advantage, 80-79, with 13 seconds to go.
 
I. Ali drove to the basket and was sent to the floor by three Raiders' defenders, but no foul was called as the clock expired, allowing Shippensburg to hang on for the victory.
 
The Mounties went 4-of-6 from the floor in the overtime period, but late turnovers proved to be the difference.
 
On the night, the Mounties led 16-4 in fastbreak points, 17-10 in points off turnovers, and 20-16 in bench points.
 
I. Ali finished with a game-high 23 points on 9-of-20 shooting, while pulling in six rebounds and dishing out two assists. The sophomore guard hit three shots from behind the arch in 40 minutes of action.
 
Manir Waller finished behind Ali with 15 points and six rebounds, while Scott Woodring secured a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. In his first game back from injury, S. Ali recorded seven points, three assists and a team-high three steals. Montgomery, who finished with nine points, hit some of the biggest shots of the game, but it was his defense in the second half that ignited the Mounties.
 
Trailing 38-33 coming out of the break, the Mounties used their defense to flip the script in the second half, turning the game into a track meet. MU scored 10 points off Shippensburg turnovers, while netting 12 points in transition to erase the first-half deficit and send the game into OT.
 
For the Raiders, Carlos Carter led three players in double figures with 22 points on 8-of-17 shooting.
 
NEXT UP
 
The Mounties host Bloomsburg University on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in PSAC action inside Decker Gym.