RELEASE DATE: 2/22/05 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIE MEN CAN WRAP UP PSAC EAST TITLE THIS WEEK - WOMEN NEED TO WIN OUT AND GET SOME HELP

MANSFIELD - The front running Mansfield University men's basketball has a chance to claim its first PSAC East title since 1997 when it travels to East Stroudsburg Wednesday before ending the regular season at Decker Gymnasium on Saturday.

Mansfield already clinched a PSAC playoff berth after beating Kutztown last Saturday and can finish no lower than third under the worst scenario.

Going into Wednesday's game at East Stroudsburg, the surprising Mountaineers are one game in front of the PSAC East pack with an 8-2 conference record. Millersville is one game back with a 7-3 mark with West Chester trailing at 7-4. East Stroudsburg (5-5) and Kutztown (4-6) are battling for the fourth and final playoff spot.

A Mansfield win over East Stroudsburg would give the Mountaineers at least a tie for the PSAC East title no matter what happens in the rest of the games during the week. A victory over ESU would give Mansfield a 9-2 conference mark with just Cheyney remaining. Even if Millersville won its final two regular season games with Kutztown on Wednesday and at Bloomsburg on Saturday and Mansfield lost to Cheyney tying both teams at 9-3, Mansfield would advance to the top seed because of its sweep over East Stroudsburg. Millersville lost once to East Stroudsburg during the season.

If Mansfield were to lose to East Stroudsburg and beat Cheyney, the Mountaineers could finish no worse than the second seed in the PSAC East insuring a home first round PSAC Playoff game on Tuesday, March 1.

In the worst case scenario, lf Mansfield lost its final two games while Millersville won its final two and West Chester its final game, Mansfield would be tied for second place with West Chester but the Mountaineers would become the third seed by tiebreaker and would have to travel to the #2 seed for Tuesday's playoff game.

On the women's side, things are much clearer. The Mountaineers must win their final two games of the season at East Stroudsburg on Wednesday and they home against Cheyney on Saturday.

Mansfield would also need some help with Kutztown losing to Millersville on Wednesday and East Stroudsburg on Saturday. That would give Mansfield an 5-7 conference mark to Kutztown and East Stroudsburg's 4-8 records and the fourth and final playoff spot. They would then travel to face the PSAC East #1 seen on Tuesday.