JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - The Mountaineers men's basketball team (1-5, 0-2 PSAC) finished their opening weekend of conference play with a 99-95 loss to the University of Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats (4-3, 2-0 PSAC).

Sterling Scott led Mansfield with 21 points and seven rebounds.

LJ Stansbury added 19 points on 8-12 shooting. He also recorded a team-high seven assists. 

Scott Woodring scored 16 points on 7-11 shooting and 2-3 from three. 

Mansfield started the game on a 21-4 run led by Woodring's quick 12 points in the first five minutes of play. 

By the under-12 media timeout, the Mountaineers held a 25-point lead thanks to their hot start shooting 83.3% from the field and over 70% from three.

At the 4:22 mark of the first half, Mansfield led by 22. UPJ used an 11-0 run to end the half and cut the Mansfield lead to 52-40. 

The Mounties' hot shooting continued throughout the first half. The Mountaineers finished the first 20 minutes of play shooting 61.3% from the field and 54.5% from three.

Pitt-Johnstown cut the deficit to seven early in the second half forcing a Mountaineer timeout. 

The Mountain Cats took their first lead (71-69) since 2-0 with 11:49 remaining in the second half.

Manfield trailed 77-76 at the under-eight media timeout, the Mountaineer shooting had cooled off shooting just 40% from the field in the second half.

UPJ extended their lead to six with 3:42 remaining on the clock as the script had flipped in the second half with the Mountain Cats shooting 60% from the field in the half. 

The Mounties were unable to make a run and retake the lead as they fell to Pitt-Johnstown on the road. 

UP NEXT:

Mansfield heads to Erie, Pa. for the 40th annual Gary Miller Classic. In the classic, the Mountaineers will take on Walsh University on Saturday (Nov. 30) and West Virginia State University on Sunday (Dec. 1).