MANSFIELD, Pa. – Idris Ali scored a team-high 19 points to lead the Mansfield University men's basketball team (5-15, 4-12 PSAC) in a 78-68 defeat at the hands of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) second-place West Chester University (16-6, 11-5 PSAC) on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 4 inside Decker Gymnasium.
 
In a game that featured eight lead changes and seven ties, the Mounties led 41-40 with 15:26 to go. However, the Golden Rams knotted the score on their next advantage before taking a two-point lead a minute later.
 
The Mounties enjoyed the lead again at the 12-minute mark following a trifecta by Gabe Perez, but the Golden Rams responded with a triple of their own a play later, igniting a 12-0 run to lead 57-45 with 7:46 to go.
 
Four straight points by Michael Dickson and the second trifecta of the night by Aaron Satin put the Mounties back within two scores, 62-58, with 6:00 remaining, but West Chester countered with another 11-2 run to extend their lead to 73-60 and put the game out of reach.
 
Ali got to the charity stripe nine times and knocked down all but one attempt on his way to a team-high 19 points. Dickson added 12 points and five rebounds, while Manir Waller and Perez each poured in 10 points. Waller pulled down a team-high eight rebounds, while Perez knocked down two shots from 3-point land.
 
The Mounties knocked down three more shots than West Chester from deep, but the Golden Rams held a 44-22 advantage in the paint and 39-30 advantage in rebounds with 12 coming on the offensive end.
 
For West Chester, Joshua Walker led the way with a 23-point, 11 rebound double-double. Kyle McGee also notched a double-double, finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Mounties travel to Lock Have University for a PSAC contest at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 7.