SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Mansfield Mountaineers men's basketball team (6-9, 4-6 PSAC East) visited Shippensburg (5-10, 2-8 PSAC East) for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division contest as the conference clash headed to overtime after another insane comeback by the team and the Mounties came out victorious, earning the thrilling 98-87 overtime victory, their second in just seven days.
This was the Mounties' first victory in Heiges Field House since February 19, 2014, when they won 80-77. This also marks the first win against Shippensburg since February 11, 2015, winning 60-52, ending the 14-game losing streak.
The 58 points in the second half is the most in a half by the Mounties since November 29, 2015, when Mansfield scored 61 against Alfred State College.
Michael Dickson led the Mounties with 27 points on the night, setting his new career high and most by a Mountie this season.
Idris Ali and Jordan Montgomery each posted 20 points and Montgomery also earned his new career high on the night.
Mansfield flooded the backboard early, throwing up 15 shots in the first five minutes and making three straight to hold a slim 12-9 margin, with Dickson and Manir Waller combining for ten of those points.
The game remained a one possession battle until the Raiders sprinted to a 14-2 run over three minutes to push out to a double-digit lead, 29-19, lead with four minutes remaining in the first half.
Shippensburg landed the only shot beyond the arc of the first half with 1:48 remaining and took a 41-24 lead into the locker rooms, holding the Mounties to no field goals made in the final seven minutes of action.
Mansfield did not sulk in defeat and pushed out the first eight points of the second half in attempts to start another sensational comeback this month, cutting the lead to 41-32.
Midway through the final half, the Raiders held a 59-49 lead, but the Mounties finally got rid of Shippensburg's double-digit dominance, putting five points away in the next minute to create the presence of a comeback.
66-57 was the lead for Shippensburg, but a 10-2 run, including six points from Montgomery shocked the home crowd and the lead was cut to one.
Montgomery caught fire after putting down ten points across two minutes when it became crunch time, but the Raiders still led 72-70 with four minutes remaining.
Mansfield and Shippensburg traded baskets in the final minutes until Waller erupted the Mountie comeback with a three-pointer with 1:10 on the clock to tie the game up at 80.
A free throw gave the Raiders the 81-80 lead, but Waller sank two free throws with 12 seconds remaining.
A late foul gave Shippensburg the chance to end it, but only landed one in the net and the Mounties found themselves heading to overtime for the second time in seven days with the score, 82-82.
Shooting 71.4% (10-14) from beyond the arc and 58.9% (20-34) from the field allowed the Mounties to clench onto the hope of a chance coming out of the locker room at halftime after being down 17.
To start off overtime, six free throws off foul trouble by the Raiders gave Mansfield the early 88-83 lead.
Shippensburg poor defensive struggles allowed to more fouling and gave the Mounties eight more made free throws. Dickson made the only bucket of overtime for the visitors, but it was all Mansfield needed to cement the comeback and win the exciting Eastern Division battle, 98-87.
UP NEXT:
The Mounties will return to Decker Gymnasium to host Millersville in another PSAC Eastern Division battle on Saturday, January 20. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.
