MOUNTIES FALL TO CAL 76-75 IN FINAL SECONDS – JUSTIN KRESS SCORES A SEASON HIGH 17 POINTS

MANSFIELD – John Owens hit a 3-pointer with 2.9 seconds left to lift California in an improbable comeback win in a 76-75 win over Mansfield at Decker Gymnasium in a PSAC crossover contest Tuesday night.

Mansfield had rallied from a 12-point deficit midway through the second half to take a 75-71 lead. Cal’s James Petty was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 6.4 seconds remaining and sank his first two free throws to cut the lead to 75-73. Petty’s third shot went off the back iron but was tipped by London Houston to Owens who hit the winning shot with 2.9 remaining.  Mansfield long inbound pass was picked off ending any hope for the win.

“We out rebounded them for the game, but missed the most important one,” said head coach Rich Miller. “We did everything we needed to do to get back into the game after trailing by 12 points, but it’s obviously a very difficult way to lose a game. Our biggest test as a team now is to see how we respond to this tomorrow.”

The game was evenly played through the first half with the teams locked a 35-35 at halftime on an Owens 3-pointer at the buzzer.

But Mansfield got into early foul trouble in the second half with Carlos Collazo and Andrae Martin forced to sit. The Mountaineers trailed 49-47 with just over 12 minutes to play when they were hit with a technical foul. Owens hit both free throws to spark a 10-0 run over the next two minutes for the biggest lead of the game.

But Mansfield crawled back into the game going on a 21-7 run starting at the 8:48 mark to take a 75-71 lead on a Chris Greene free throw with 1:13 to play.

Justin Kress led five Mountaineers in double figures with a season high 17 points whith Terrance Willams scoring 15 points and freshman Chris Greene 13. Brandon DeShields added 12 with Carlos Collazo 10.

Boris Mesnager and James Petty each scored 18 points to lead California (6-2) while Owens had 17 points.

It marked the marked the fourth time in the Mountaineers have been involved in a game that was settled by three or less points and the second one-point loss to a PSAC West foe.

Mansfield will host Shippensburg Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Decker Gymnasim.

Newspaper Box Score

California University vs Mansfield University

12/20/05 7:30 at Decker Gymnasium

At Decker Gymnasium

CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY 76, MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY 75

CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY (6-2)

PETTY, James 7-11 2-3 18; MESNAGER, Boris 7-12 4-6 18; OWENS, John 6-13 2-217; EISENTROUT, Travis 3-9 1-2 9; GARDNER, Osborne 4-5 1-3 9; GREEN,Kelvin2-6 1-1 5; HOUSTON, London 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-57 11-17 76.

MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY (4-2)

KRESS, Justin 7-7 3-4 17; WILLIAMS, Terrance 6-9 2-2 15; GREENE, Chris 3-7

5-7 13; DESHIELDS, Brandon 5-13 2-3 12; COLLAZO, Carlos 5-9 0-0 10; MARTIN,Andrae 2-6 0-0 4; MORTIMER, Denny 1-2 0-0 2; HAMPTON, John 0-1 2-2 2; HILL,Kevin 0-2 0-0 0; HOOPES, David 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 29-59 14-18 75.

California University.........   35   41  -   76

Mansfield University..........   35   40  -   75

3-point goals-California University 7-13 (OWENS, John 3-5; EISENTROUT,

Travis 2-4; PETTY, James 2-3; GREEN, Kelvin 0-1), Mansfield University 3-16

(GREENE, Chris 2-4; WILLIAMS, Terrance 1-2; MARTIN, Andrae 0-1; HAMPTON,

John 0-1; HILL, Kevin 0-2; HOOPES, David 0-3; DESHIELDS, Brandon 0-3).

Fouled out--California University-None, Mansfield University-None.

Rebounds-California University 29 (PETTY, James 9), Mansfield University 34

(MARTIN, Andrae 10). Assists-California University 13 (MESNAGER, Boris 4),

Mansfield University 12 (DESHIELDS, Brandon 4). Total fouls-California

University 18, Mansfield University 17. A-253