RELEASE DATE: 2/25/04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES CLINCH HOME GAME IN PSAC PLAYOFFS WITH  83-66 WIN OVER EAST STROUDSBURG – IAN CONNOR BECOMES 22^ND PLAYER IN SCHOOL HISTORY TO SCORE 1,000 POINT

MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University men’s basketball clinched at least one home game in the upcoming PSAC Playoffs with an 83-66 win over East Stroudsburg at Koehler Fieldhouse Wednesday night.

“We’ve looked forward to this game ever since they beat us at home earlier in the season,” said head coach Vince Alexander. “You can call it revenge or sense of satisfaction if you want, but we consider it another step on the road to hosting the playoffs.”

East Stroudsburg had upset the Mountaineers 84-81 in their first meeting. It is Mansfield only loss in 13 games this season at Decker Gymnasium.

Not only was it a team accomplishment with five players scoring in double figures, but for senior Ian Connor it was a night of personal milestones.

Connor needed just 10 points to become the 22^nd player in school history to reach the 1,000 point milestone. He also becomes the seventh player in school history to record 500 rebounds and 1,000 points. He had just four points at halftime and left the game early in the second half with eight points and four personal fouls.

Connor got back into the game with just over four minutes to play and hit the first of two free throws to pull to 999 points. He then went over the 1,000 mark on a follow up to a missed shot with less than two minutes to play.

“Ian is a great player, but he had us all a little scared tonight,” said Alexander. “His hometown is just a couple of minutes away from here and we had a lot of people make the trip from Mansfield to see him get to 1,000. When he got that fourth personal, it made it a little exciting for all of us.”

Despite the foul trouble, Connor had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Omari Peason scored 17 points with Brandon DeShields 14 points. Bill McNeal added 11 points and Bryan Bryant had 10.

Rich Baker scored 17 points for East Stroudsburg.

Mansfield improves to 21-5 overall and 8-3 in the PSAC East. They wrap up the regular season at West Chester. The Mountaineers trail Cheyney by one game for the PSAC East title.