EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. - The Mansfield Mountaineers men's basketball team traveled to East Stroudsburg for the second time in three days, with more on the line this time in the first round of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) playoffs. 

Michael Dickson led the Mounties with 22 points, shooting 6-12 from the field and going a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line.

Saraj Ali added 14 points on 5-9 from the floor. Idris Ali recorded 13 points, knocking down two threes, and had two steals.

S. Ali started the scoring for the Mounties, recording the game's first bucket. 

The Warriors and Mountaineers traded baskets over the first 14 minutes of the game with neither team being able to pull away. 

Mansfield's largest first-half lead came from a Dickson three at the 12:56 mark to put the Mountaineers up by five, 20-15. 

Over the next five minutes, East Stroudsburg utilized a 15-5 run to flip the game and claim their own five-point advantage.

A 15-5 Warrior run was followed by a 23-5 ESU run that enabled them to carry a 58-37 lead into the break. 

I. Ali got the second half started with a driving layup for Mansfield as they looked for a spark to close the deficit.

Seniors Manir Waller, Jordan Montgomery, and Gabe Perez shared the court for one final time over the last five minutes as they finished off a memorable 2023-24 season for the Mountaineers.

The Mounties never found the extended run they needed to get back within striking distance as their first playoff run since 2012-13 came to an end after a 114-72 loss in the first round of the PSAC playoffs.

Coach Szentesy closed the season saying "This team came together through so much adversity when in the preseason they picked us last in the polls and now we're at the point where coaches did not want to play us."