RELEASE DATE: 2/18/06

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mountaineers rally from 14 down to overcome Kutztown 95-92

KUTZTOWN – Brandon DeShields scored 27 points as the Mountaineers used a first half 16-2 run to roar back from a 14 point deficit and defeat Kutztown 95-92 Saturday.

The win over the Golden Bears was key as it keeps the Mountaineers in a prime position to snag a PSAC playoff berth.

DeShields was eight of nine shooting, including three of three from three point range. He also got the job done from the free throw line, hitting eight of his ten foul shots. Mansfield also got double-digit performances from Carlos Collazo and Andre Martin, who scored 15 each, and David Hoopes, who had 13 points, including nine on three-pointers.

The Mountaineers out-rebounded Kutztown 42-34, but the Golden Bears were nearly unstoppable from three point range as they hit 13 of 21 from beyond the arc.

The Mountaineers came out flat in the first half and allowed the Golden Bears to go up by as much as 14 points on a pair of free throw by Bruce Hall at the 4:49 mark of the first half.

At that point, the Mountaineers found their offensive spark and closed out the remainder of the half on a 16-2 run to tie the score at 47-47 at half time. Ten of those 16 points came on free throw attempts, including two by Hoopes, who was fouled by Maurice Bryant as time expired in the half.

Mansfield and Kutztown played a back-and-forth contest to open the second half. Kutztown took the largest lead of the second half when David Ben hit two free throws at the 11:33 mark to extend their lead to seven.

The Mountaineers answered right back, going on a 9-2 run to tie the game at 71-71 at 9:09 on a jumper by Martin. Mansfield took the lead for good when DeShields sank a layup with 5:12 remaining.

Kutztown would not give up and kept the game close down the stretch, but could not recover from a long three pointer by DeShields at the 1:24 mark that put Mansfield up by six. Kutztown did manage to pull within one point with 39 seconds to go, but two foul shots by DeShields sealed the game for Mansfield.

Kutztown was led by David Ben and Bruce Hall, who recorded 23 and 21 points respectively.

Mansfield evens their record at 12-12 overall and improves to 6-4 in conference play. Next up for the Mountaineers is a home game against East Stroudsburg before wrapping up the regular season against Cheyney.

Newspaper Box Score

Mansfield vs Kutztown

02/18/06 3:00 PM at Keystone Arena, Kutztown, PA

At Keystone Arena, Kutztown, PA

MANSFIELD 95, KUTZTOWN 92

MANSFIELD (12-12,6-4 PSAC E)

DESHIELDS, Brandon 8-9 8-10 27; COLLAZO, Carlos 3-7 9-9 15; MARTIN, Andrae 7-11 1-3 15; HOOPES, David 4-18 2-2 13; HAMPTON, John 3-7 2-2 8; KRESS, Justin 4-7 0-2 8; WILLIAMS, Terrance 2-6 2-2 6; GREENE, Chris 0-1 3-4 3; HILL, Kevin 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 31-67 27-34 95.

KUTZTOWN (14-11,5-5 PSAC E)

BEN, David 7-10 5-5 23; HALL, Bruce 8-14 2-3 21; ARNOLD, Ben 8-14 1-2 17; MOULTRIE, Frank 4-13 0-0 11; BRYANT, Maurice 4-5 0-0 10; COLES, Andre 2-5 1-2 5; SIMS, Dorian 1-4 0-0 3; WOODLIN, Andre 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 35-69 9-12 92.

Mansfield.....................   47   48  -   95

Kutztown......................   47   45  -   92

3-point goals-Mansfield 6-21 (DESHIELDS, Brandon 3-3; HOOPES, David 3-12;

MARTIN, Andrae 0-1; HAMPTON, John 0-2; WILLIAMS, Terrance 0-1; GREENE, Chris 0-1; HILL, Kevin 0-1), Kutztown 13-21 (BEN, David 4-4; MOULTRIE, Frank 3-9; HALL, Bruce 3-4; BRYANT, Maurice 2-3; SIMS, Dorian 1-1). Fouled out--Mansfield-None, Kutztown-BEN, David. Rebounds-Mansfield 42 (COLLAZO, Carlos 8), Kutztown 34 (BEN, David 7). Assists-Mansfield 18 (GREENE, Chris 7), Kutztown 26 (BRYANT, Maurice 11). Total fouls-Mansfield 16, Kutztown 27.

A-750