RELEASE DATE: 1/24/04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES GO COLD DOWN THE STRETCH IN 97-89 LOSS AT CHEYNEY – SEVEN GAME WINNING STREAK SNAPPED

CHEYNEY – The Mansfield University men’s basketball team went 0-8 from the field in the final 5:47 minutes of the game in suffering a 97-89 setback to Cheyney University in a PSAC East contest at Cope Hall Saturday afternoon.

The loss, just the third this season in 19 games, snapped a seven game winning streak for the Mountaineers. Mansfield was playing its second straight game without PSAC scoring and rebounding leader Omari Pearson.

“We just could not execute down the stretch,” said head coach Vince Alexander. “Even without Omari, we had put our selves in position to be able to win in the last five minutes, but you have to score and we didn’t.”

In a game played at breakneck speed, the Mountaineers took a slim 43-42 lead at halftime behind seniors Brett Longpre’ and Ian Connor who accounted for 30 of Mansfield’s points with 17 and 13 points respectively in the first half.

Cheyney was hot from the floor all day hitting 56.7% of their shots from the field – the best against the Mountaineer defense all season.

Cheyney built a 74-66 lead at the 11:38 mark, but the Mountaineers chipped away to cut the lead to 82-81 on Longpre’s fifth 3-pointer of the game with 6:39 remaining.

Cheyney held an 84-83 lead with 5:47 to go, but the Mountaineers missed all eight of their shots from the field until Brian Bryant hit a layup as time expired. Mansfield lost three players to fouls over that span with Glenn Jackson, Brandon DeShields and Rob Carter all fouling out of the game.

The Mountaineers were out rebounded for the first time all season 42-39.

Longpre’ scored a game high 33 points with Ian Connor adding 22 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots. Bill McNeil had 15 points.

Cheyney (12-4, 3-0) was led by Anthony Frazier with 31 points while former Boston College standout Ryan Sidney added 22 points.