WARRIOR MEN'S HOOPS COMES UP SHORT AT MANSFIELD

MANSFIELD, PA - The Lycoming College men's basketball team traveled to Division II Mansfield University, Wednesday evening, for a non-conference contest. The Warriors got into early foul trouble and dug themselves a hole they almost climbed out of; but solid free throw shooting by the Mountaineers down the stretch seeled the 93-81 victory for the home team. Lycoming drops to 4-3 overall with the loss, while Mansfield improves to 6-1 on the year.

After the Mountaineers scored the first five points of the game, the Warriors battled back to take a pair of leads and force two ties during the first five minutes of play. Mansfield, however, took the lead back at the 14:50 mark and slowly built their lead to 12 at the half.

Lycoming was hampered by foul trouble with Matt Stackhouse (Jr./Hughesville, PA; Hughesville) on the bench with three fouls for the final 12:30 of the first period, and Tommy Wesner (Sr./Dillsburg, PA; Northern) and L.J. Huggler (Jr./St. Marys, PA; St. Marys) each with two fouls.

In the second half, the Mountaineers' depth helped them stretch their lead to 23 with just less than ten minutes to play. The Warriors, however, would not go quietly. Shaun Morris (So./Camp Hill, PA; Trinity) and Wesner hit consecutive three pointers to spark a 14-3 run late in the period that puled Lycoming within eight with 2:15 to play. But the comeback was not to be as Brett Longpre' went 8-for-8 from the free-throw line in the final two minutes to seal the victory for Mansfield.

Wesner was the leading scorer in the game with 19 points. He also tallied four assists and four steals. Huggler added 17 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Jonathan Pribble (Fr./Woolrich, PA; Central Mountain) and Morris also reached double figures with 13 and 11 points respectively.

Lycoming will play their next game on Thursday, January 2, at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.