RELEASE DATE: 2/15/06

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mansfield Rally Falls Short -- Bloomsburg Hangs on for 101-95 Victory

The Bloomsburg University Huskies defeated Mansfield 101-95 Wednesday evening at Decker Gymnasium despite a torrid comeback by the Mountaineers.

Mansfield struggled from the beginning as Bloomsburg scored the first four points on the contest and never looked back as Mansfield would never tie or lead in the game.

The cold-shooting Mounties trailed by as much as 15 points in the first half before going on an 8-0 run sparked by a David Hoopes three-pointer to cut the Huskies lead to seven.  Hoopes would close the half with another three pointer to send the Mountaineers into the locker room trailing 50-45 at halftime.

The rejuvenated Mountaineers held the game close trailing by only four with just under 16:00 to play before Bloomsburg began to pull away. The Huskies went on a 9-0 run to increase their lead to 13 points at 70-57.

 The Huskies hit an impressive 56.7% of their shots from the floor while Mansfield shot 43.4% from the floor.

The Huskies increased their lead to 17 points with 11:00 to play and held that 17 point lead until 8:21 to play when Mansfield began their incredible comeback. After two free throw shots from Andrae Martin, the Mounties went on a 12-2 run to cut the score to 87-81 with 6:28 to play.

Mansfield continued to score with the Huskies but could not stop them from scoring on the other end of the floor. The Mounties closed to within two points on a drive and layup from Kevin Hill, who celebrated his 20th birthday tonight, to make the score 97-95 with 16 seconds left to play.

Bloomsburg hit their free throws down the stretch and Mansfield could not covert on their final two possessions as the Huskies held on for a 101-95 victory.

Mansfield was led by Hoopes who finished with a career high 28 points including seven 3-pointers. His 28 points were the most by any Mountaineer in a single game this season. Andrae Martin turned in another outstanding performance scoring over 20 points and recording a double-double for the third consecutive game. Martin finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Terrance Williams put in his best performance since his injury finishing with 15 points on the night.  Carlos Collazo also scored in double figures finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Bloomsburg was led by Matt Jefferson who recorded a game high 34 points on 15-of-26 shooting while pulling down 12 rebounds before fouling out of the contest. Four other Huskies recorded double figure performances -- Billy Bryan finished with 18 points, Marion Rose with 15, Mike Cheatle with 13, and Steve Cunningham with 12.

Mansfield falls to 11-12 overall on the season and drops to 5-4 in the PSAC East while Bloomsburg improves to 1-7 in the PSAC East.

Mansfield is back in action Saturday February 18th when they travel to Kutztown to face the Golden Bears in a crucial PSAC East matchup. That contest will be broadcast on 89.5fm WNTE and online at www.gomounties.com.

Newspaper Box Score

Bloomsburg University vs Mansfield University

2/15/06 7:30 pm at Decker Gymnasium

At Decker Gymnasium

BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY 101, MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY 95

BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY (6-18 (2-7))

JEFFERSON, Matt 15-26 4-5 34; BRYAN, Billy 6-8 3-7 18; ROSE, Marion 5-11 4-6

15; CHEATLE, Mike 4-9 2-2 13; CUNNINGHAM, Seve 4-7 4-4 12; HOLSEY, Brian 3-4

0-0 6; MILLS, Bryson 1-1 1-2 3; LONG, Jeremiah 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 38-67 18-26

101.

MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY (11-12 (5-4))

HOOPES, David 10-13 1-2 28; MARTIN, Andrae 8-11 6-10 22; WILLIAMS, Terrance

6-12 1-1 15; COLLAZO, Carlos 2-7 6-6 10; HAMPTON, John 3-8 2-2 9; KRESS,

Justin 2-6 0-4 4; DESHIELDS, Brandon 1-14 1-2 4; HILL, Kevin 1-2 0-0 2;

GREENE, Chris 0-3 1-2 1. Totals 33-76 18-29 95.

Bloomsburg University......... 50 51 - 101

Mansfield University.......... 45 50 - 95

3-point goals-Bloomsburg University 7-16 (BRYAN, Billy 3-3; CHEATLE, Mike

3-6; ROSE, Marion 1-4; CUNNINGHAM, Seve 0-3), Mansfield University 11-28

(HOOPES, David 7-10; WILLIAMS, Terrance 2-4; DESHIELDS, Brandon 1-6;

HAMPTON, John 1-3; HILL, Kevin 0-1; GREENE, Chris 0-3; KRESS, Justin 0-1).

Fouled out--Bloomsburg University-BRYAN, Billy; JEFFERSON, Matt, Mansfield

University-None. Rebounds-Bloomsburg University 45 (JEFFERSON, Matt 12),

Mansfield University 37 (MARTIN, Andrae 11). Assists-Bloomsburg University

25 (CHEATLE, Mike 7), Mansfield University 22 (GREENE, Chris 7; DESHIELDS,

Brandon 7). Total fouls-Bloomsburg University 24, Mansfield University 20.

A-711