BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Tyerell Mann (East Stroudsburg, PA /Notre Dame - East Stroudsburg ) scored what proved to be the game winner with 7.7 seconds remaining as the Northampton Men's Basketball team defeated Johnson College, 86-84, on Thursday evening at the Arthur L. Scott Center.

The Spartans led by 24 with 16:19 remaining in the game, only to see Johnson take a one point lead, at 78-77, with 5 minutes to play. The teams battled back and forth over the last 5 minutes, before Mann's herorics.

"It wasn't our best effort, but we will take the win," commented Head Coach Brennan McCarthy, "we really lost our defensive intensity in the second half, and to Johnson's credit, they never quit."

Bryson Walton (Allentown, PA /William Allen ) led Northampton with 19 points, Juan Perez-Jones (Morrisville, PA /Pennsbury ) had 14, while Mann finished with 13. Justin Kusiappouh (East Stroudsburg, PA /East Stroudsburg North ) grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds and added 7 points, while Edwin Lopez (East Stroudsburg, PA /Stroudsburg ) dished out 8 assists.

Northampton outrebounded Johnson 50 to 34 and outscored the Jaguars 46 to 26 in the paint.

The win moves Northampton to .500 overall at 11-11, 9-11 in Region XIX and 9-7 in conference play.

Johnson falls to 4-20 overall, 4-16 in Region XIX and 4-12 in the EPAC.

The Spartans now need 2 wins in their final 3 games to qualify for the postseason.

Northampton travels to Bucks County Community College on Saturday for a 12pm contest.