RELEASE DATE: 2/19/05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES CLINCH PSAC PLAYOFF BERTH IN 101-86 WIN OVER KUTZTOWN – JASON BENSON TOPS FIVE MU PLAYERS IN DOUBLE FIGURES WITH 21 POINTS

MANSFIELD – Jason Benson topped five Mountaineers in double figures with 21 points to lead Mansfield to a PSAC clinching playoff berth win over Kutztown at Decker Gymnasium.

“I have to thank God for such unselfish players,” said head coach Vince Alexander after becoming the first PSAC East team to earn a conference playoff berth. “Not only was the unselfish play of all of our players responsible for the win today, it’s been the story of our success all season.”

Mansfield never trailed after the first three minutes of the game with the Mountaineers breaking a 4-4 tie with a 15-2 run to take a 19-6 lead at the 12:51 mark of the first half on a jumper by Benson.

Brian Bryant hit one of his four 3-pointers in the half with one second left in the first  to give Mansfield a 43-33 lead at intermission.

“Brian Bryant did a great job for us coming off the bench,” said Alexander. “That 3-pointer he hit just before the end of the first half really gave us the boost we needed for the second half.”

Mansfield came out of the locker room on fire hitting 72.7% (16-22) of their shots from the floor in the second half. The Mountaineers used their inside game with Carlos Collazo and Justin Kress who combined for 17 second half points to control the tempo of the game.

“Carlos and Justin were just terrific,” said Alexander. “They went right after Salaam (Bilal), one of the most dominating inside players in the conference and refused to be intimidated.”

Although the Mountaineers had five players in double figures and scored more than 100 points for the fourth time this season, the outcome may have been decided by defensive play.

“Our guys did not allow Brickus and Eberhart to really get started,” said Alexander.  “They scored points, but were never really in the flow of their game all afternoon.”

Benson not only led the Mountaineers with 21 points, but recorded his second double-double of the season with a game high 14 rebounds. He also dished out four assists with two steals. Senior Brian Bryant had a career high 19 points with three assists and two steals. Carlos Collazo scored 16 points with three blocks while Brandon DeShields had 15 points. Jeremy Frey added 13 points including a thunderous dunk in the second half.

Bilal Salaam scored a game high 25 points with nine rebounds for Kutztown with Bobby Eberhart adding 16.

The win keeps Mansfield (8-2) one game ahead of Millersville (7-3), which defeated Cheyney on Saturday, in first place in the PSAC East with two games remaining in the regular season. West Chester (7-4), a 52-51 winner over East Stroudsburg (5-5) on Saturday, is in third place.

The Mountaineers will travel to East Stroudsburg on Wednesday evening before finishing the regular season at home against Cheyney on Saturday.