MANSFIELD, Pa. – The Mansfield Mountaineers men's basketball team (4-8, 2-5 PSAC East) opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division action with Kutztown (1-12, 0-7 PSAC East) on Saturday afternoon, as the Mounties came out victorious in their first home game of the calendar year, 78-74. 

Idris Ali led the team with 15 points on the afternoon and grabbed six rebounds. Saraj Ali posted 13 points and four rebounds.  

Julian Wilson had a career day with 13 points and seven rebounds. 

Scott Woodring scored seven of the first ten points, as the two were tied up at 10 in the first five minutes. 

After an 8-2 run by the Golden Bears, Kutztown retook the lead and held a 20-15 advantage midway through the first half. 

Mansfield responded with emphasis, posting a 13-3 push to hold a 28-23 lead with five minutes remaining. Wilson threw up two layups in that span, and also posted four more points in the final minutes of the half as the Mounties headed to the locker rooms with a 37-33 margin on the scoreboard. 

The Golden Bears opened the half with a 12-3 run right before the first media timeout to hold the 45-40 lead and change the flow of the game. 

Two straight three from I. Ali pushed the lead back into the Mounties' hands, pushing out to a 51-49 lead. 

This PSAC East start went down to clutch time after the teams were tied at 61, heading into the final five minutes. 

After an and-one fall by Manir Waller, the Mounties broke out a four-point lead, holding the slim 68-64 advantage.  

Before the final media timeout, Camden Hurst dropped a three from the corner to give Mansfield the 71-66 lead.  

Crunch time saw the Mounties as Hurst silenced the Golden Bears with a dagger from beyond the arc as Mansfield picked up the 78-74 victory. 

UP NEXT: 
The Mounties will host local foe Bloomsburg for a PSAC East matchup on Wednesday, January 10. Tip-off in Decker Gymnasium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.