SHEPHERDSTOWN, W. Va. – The Mansfield Mountaineers men's basketball team (5-9, 3-6 PSAC East) traveled to Shepherd (6-8, 3-6 PSAC East) for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division contest, but the Rams defended their court and took home the 71-53 victory.  

Michael Dickson led the team with 14 points, his seventh double digit game of the season and picked up seven rebounds.  

Saraj Ali scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds on the afternoon.  

A slow shooting start by both teams saw the Mounties post double digits first midway through the first half with an 11-7 lead. The teams combined for 36.3% (8-22) shooting in the first ten minutes. 

Three minutes later, the Rams eclipsed a 9-2 run to take the 16-13 lead.  

Seven straight points from Dickson helped push the Mounties back out in front, holding a 22-20 lead. The guard finished with nine points in the half, all coming within a red-hot three-minute span. 

Behind seven more points from the Ali brothers, Mansfield broke out to a 29-22 lead, but a 10-2 quick finish to the half gave Shepherd the 32-31 lead heading into the locker room. 

After a 38-38 start to the second half, the host pushed out nine unanswered points, to take the largest lead to that point with 12 minutes remaining in the final half. 

Seven quick points by the Mounties cut the lead to just 49-45, but 14 unanswered points by Shepherd as their home court advantage gave them a 63-45 lead. 

This would be enough for the Rams to finish off Mansfield and earn their first victory of the new year, taking down the Mounties by a score of 71-53. 

UP NEXT: 
The Mounties will stay on the road for another conference clash against Shippensburg on Wednesday, January 17. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.