RELEASE DATE: 2/07/09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Callahan and Carr key comeback to lead Mansfield to 64-62 win at Shippensburg – Duo combine for 40 points as Mansfield extends winning streak to five games  -- Second place Mounties host first place Kutztown on Wednesday

Box Score

SHIPPENSBURG – Ryan Callahan and Yuseff Carr combined for 24 second-half points to rally Mansfield to a 64-62 win over Shippensburg in a key PSAC East win at Heiges Field House Saturday afternoon.

The win extends Mansfield’s season-long winning streak to five games and keeps the Mountaineers in second place in the PSAC East one game behind division leading Kutztown.

“We didn’t play an overly great game,” said head coach Rich Miller. “But it was a good win. We were able to overcome some adversity and generate some defensive intensity in the last five minutes while Ryan (Callahan) and Yuseff (Carr) provided the offense when we really needed it.”

It looked as if Mansfield had control of the game early building a 26-15 lead on a 3-pointer by Callahan with just over seven minutes to play in the first half before Shippensburg rallied to close to 30-27 at halftime.

Shippensburg took a 39-38 lead six minutes into the second half on a layup by Lamar Drayton and extended its advantage to 55-48 with 6:20 to play.

Chris Greene hit a big 3-point shot seconds later and Callahan added another 3-pointer on the Mountaineers next possession to close the score to 55-54. But Shippensburg came right back taking a 60-55 lead on a pair of free throws by Daziah Miller with just over four minutes to play.

Carr hit a layup to pull Mansfield to three points and Callahan buried a 3-pointer on Mansfield’s next possession to tie the game at 60-60 with three minutes to play.

Chris Pender hit a free throw to give Mansfield at 61-60 lead a minute later and Carr blocked a Shippensburg shot before Chris Green made a free throw giving Mansfield a 62-60 lead at the 1:18 mark.

Shippensburg missed a layup with 15 second left and Callahan hit two free throws three seconds later to ice the game.

Callahan scored 12 of his game-high 22 points in the second half and connected n 5-9 of his 3-point attempts. Carr had a double-double with 18 points, 12 of them in the second half, and 13 rebounds. He also blocked three shots.

Ryan Kraft led Shippensburg (10-11, 2-6 PSAC East) with 19 points while Dazah Miller had a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds.

Mansfield will take on front-running Kutztown in a game that has first place implications this Wednesday evening in Decker Gymnasium.