Box Score

Institute, W.Va. - Homestanding West Virginia State scored the first seven points of the game and the Millersville men's basketball team could never recover, falling 86-70 to the Yellow Jackets Saturday afternoon.

Senior Reggie Bates scored a season high 26 points and Jason Blake tallied a career-high 19, but the Marauders struggled to generate offense, shooting just 34 percent on the game and 2-of-18 from 3-point range. W.Va. State's stifling full-court press had a hand in forcing 17 Millersville turnovers as well.

The Yellow Jackets were led by Ted Scott, who led the nation in scoring in 2006-07. He finished with 25 points on 11-of-16 shooting. He received plenty of support, though, as four other Yellow Jackets scored in double figures.

The potent W.Va. State offense clicked early as itraced to a 7-0 lead before the Marauders cracked the scoring column over three minutes into the game. W.Va. State's Wade Pidcock led the early charge, hitting three 3-pointers in the first six minutes to give the Yellow Jackets a 10 point lead.

Despite shooting just 9-of-29 from the field in the first frame, the Marauders stayed close thanks to 10 points from both Bates and Blake. Millersville trailed by 11 at the half but slashed the lead to just five points with 15:16 left in the game after six-straight points by Bates.

But four seconds after Bates' shot made the score 48-43, Will Collins scored on a fast break lay-up, sparking an 11-3 W.Va. State run over the next three minutes that put the Marauders out of reach.

Millersville, now 3-2 on the season, is 1-2 on the road this season and 0-4 all-time against W.Va. State.

Bates' 14 made free throws were a career-high and Blakes eight rebounds were also a career-high. Makal Stibbins managed four points, but finished with his third double-digit rebound effort in four games, as he pulled down a game-high 11.

The Marauders will look to bounce back on Dec. 3 when they host Elizabethtown at Pucillo Gymnasium. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.