MANSFIELD, Pa. - The Mountaineer men's basketball team (5-9, 2-6 PSAC East) was defeated by the Shippensburg University Raiders (6-9, 4-5 PSAC East) 82-78 on Saturday (Jan. 11) afternoon.

Sterling Scott scored a team-high 21 points and pulled in a career-high 18 rebounds.

Julian Wilson added 12 points and two rebounds, both on the offensive end. 

Nasir Brown was the Mounties second-leading scorer, recording 15 points on the day. 

The two sides traded baskets in the first six minutes as the Raiders built an early 16-11 lead at the first media break.

A 6-0 run out of the timeout for Shippensburg swelled their advantage to 11 before Ty Crespo knocked down two free throws to pull back to within single digits at the under-12 media timeout. 

With 7:50 to go in the first half, the Raiders held a 16-point lead over the Mounties. The Mansfield offense shot just 30% from the floor and turned the ball over four times, leading to six Shippensburg points. 

At halftime, the Mountaineers trailed 52-36, as Nasir Brown (10) and Julian Wilson (8) combined for 18 of the team's 36 points in the half. 

Shippensburg maintained their double-digit advantage throughout the first 11 minutes of the second half and led 66-51 with 8:48 left to play. 

Mansfield utilized a 14-2 run to get back within three with over five minutes to play in regulation.  

With under four to play, the Mountaineers trailed 72-70 after Crespo completed his and-one opportunity after the media timeout. 

Back-to-back baskets for the Mounties cut the Raider lead to one with 1:18 left. After a 1-2 trip at the free throw line from Shippensburg, the Mountaineers tied the game at 78 with a Wilson layup. 

A quick answer from the Raiders put them back on top with 22 seconds to go and forced a Mansfield timeout.

Trailing 80-78, coming out of the timeout the Mountaineers had two looks at a game-tying opportunity but couldn't get either to fall.

Shippensburg iced the game with two free throws and escaped Decker Gym with the victory.  

UP NEXT:

Mansfield travels to Kutztown on Monday (Jan. 13) night to take on the Golden Bears in a conference clash. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.