MANSFIELD, Pa. – 18 points was the deficit in the second half before the Mansfield Mountaineers men's basketball team (5-8, 3-5 PSAC East) created an epic comeback, in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division overtime battle, with Bloomsburg (3-11, 1-7 PSAC East), as the Mounties grabbed another home victory, taking down the Huskies, 85-84. 

Idris Ali tied up game at the end of regulation, and Michael Dickson ended the Huskies hope with the game winning shot to earn their second straight conference victory. 

After a 7-7 split to start the conference clash, the Huskies ran out a 10-3 run over the next five minutes to take an early 17-10 lead in Decker Gymnasium.  

Bloomsburg pushed out another 9-2 run, to hold the double-digit 30-18 lead with five minutes remaining in the first half.  

Mansfield trimmed the lead before heading into the locker room after scoring nine points in the final three minutes, including four from Julian Wilson, but the Huskies took a 39-31 advantage into halftime.  

The visitors opened the second half on a commanding run, breaking the scoring out to an 18-point lead, 55-37, midway through the half.  

Momentum shifted to the Mounties as a monstrous 13-2 run, including four points from Camden Hurst as Mansfield brought the game to 57-50.  

It turned into Mountie madness as the team tied it up at 61 as Mansfield could not miss

The teams exchanged blows until Bloomsburg opened up a 73-68 lead, but after four points from Saraj Ali and a bucket by Wilson, the Mounties were within one. I. Ali landed two free throws to take the 74-73 lead. 

After three free throws, the Huskies held the 76-74 lead with six seconds remaining, but the late heroics from I. Ali watched the ball swish through the net with 0.6 seconds left to send the conference thriller to overtime. 

In overtime, five quick points by I. Ali gave the Mounties an early 81-77 lead.  

A 7-2 push until the final minute gave Bloomsburg the 84-83 hold, but Dickson downed the Huskies with the emphatic jumper with eight seconds remaining and gave the Mountie faithful an ovation to grab the 85-84 overtime victory and win their second straight.  

UP NEXT: 
The Mounties head back on the road to visit West Virginia in a PSAC East battle with the Shepherd Rams on Saturday, January 13. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.