KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Mansfield Mountaineers men's basketball team (6-14, 4-11 PSAC East) found a late surge in the second half, but it was not enough in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division clash with Kutztown University (3-18, 2-13 PSAC East) on Saturday afternoon, with the Golden Bears earning the 83-80 victory. 

Saraj Ali posted his career high with 29 points and eight rebounds, shooting 58.8% (10-17) from the field. 

Michael Dickson earned his second 20-point game of the season, dropping 23 points and picking up five rebounds. 

Kutztown used the home court advantage to coast to an early 10-2 lead in the first four minutes. 

Behind six points from S. Ali, Mansfield reached within three, with the Golden Bears holding the 14-11 advantage. 

As Kutztown held the lead through the first fifteen minutes, the Mounties reached their closest when a Dickson bucket limited the Golden Bears lead to one at 23-22. 

For the rest of the first half, Kutztown remained in control, but Dickson landed five points in the final minute as KU entered the locker rooms with a slim 39-37 lead. 

Momentum broke out for the home team, scoring the first six points of the second half in the first two minutes. 

The first double-digit lead came at the 12:21 mark as Kutztown held the 59-49 advantage. 

Mansfield could only reach within eight over the next minutes, but the Golden Bears held a 78-65 command with just under six minutes remaining in the Eastern Division clash. 

Just as the home fans thought they could pack up with a victory locked, a 15-2 run brought life to the Mounties in the final five minutes, including nine straight points from Idris Ali, to tie the conference thriller at 80 with 47 seconds remaining.  

With 30 seconds remaining, Kutztown rattled a basket in to hold the 82-80 advantage and free throw insurance was all they needed to claim the 83-80 victory.  

UP NEXT: 
The Mounties stay on the road for a clash with Bloomsburg on Wednesday, February 7. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.