MANSFIELD, Pa. – Behind Scott Woodring's 1,000 career point for the Mounties, the Mansfield Mountaineer men's basketball team (7-13, 4-10 PSAC East) earned another Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division victory against Kutztown (7-14, 3-11 PSAC East) in their 87-78 triumph on Saturday (Feb. 1).

Woodring totaled his one thousandth point of his Mansfield career with a free throw at 26 seconds remaining in the first half. Woodring tied his career high with 25 points on the afternoon and had 11 rebounds. 

Crespo scored 21 points, his highest of the season with the Mounties and eight assists.

Kutztown posted six quick points in the first minute of the game to hold the 6-2 lead, before Sterling Scott and the team posted their quick response, throwing his layup in to grab the 9-8 advantage.

13 of the next 15 points went the Golden Bears way, behind five consecutive field goals to give KU the 21-11 edge.

Lleyton Fried found his rhythm, posting six points in four minutes, but the opponent kept their momentum and held the 28-21 lead midway through the first quarter. 

After KU had the 32-25 hold, the Mountaineers rounded out the first half with the final 16 of the 20 points, behind Woodring dropping seven and Crespo earning five in the final five minutes for Mansfield to take the 41-36 advantage, using the thousandth point momentum into halftime. 

The red and black broke out to a 48-41 degree until Kutztown brought the game to a 52-51 deficit with their 10 of 14 points in the first five minutes. 

A back-and-forth battle ensued for the following minutes, with the Mounties only reaching a lead as large as five, including an emphatic alley-oop from Scott and Crespo, but the Golden Bears kept it close and retook the lead at 70-69 with six minutes remaining.

Three lead changes passed before Mansfield broke out to the 77-72 advantage. 

A no-look pass from Scott gave Diarmid Stewart an easy bucket before KU responded to make the deficit to 79-76 under three minutes remaining.

Owen Chambers completed an and-one to give the Mounties their largest lead since the beginning of the half at 82-76.

Mansfield kept its composure and sealed the deal for the 87-78 PSAC Eastern Division victory. 

UP NEXT:
The Mountaineers will face Bloomsburg in Decker Gymnasium on Wednesday (Feb. 5) as a part of the celebration for National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.