Box Score

Millersville, Pa. — The Millersville men's basketball team fought an uphill battle all night, but never got to the summit, as its comeback bid fell short in a 70-65 loss to Elizabethtown on Wednesday night at Pucillo Gymnasium.

Points were tough to come by in the first half, as the two schools hooked up on the hardwood for the 93rd time. Neither team capitalized on opportunities in the early going. Millersville (3-3) got early buckets from Reggie Bates and Jason Blake, to take an 8-4 lead just over five minutes into the game, but the Blue Jays (5-2) answered with a jumper from Phil Schaffer to knot the game at eight with 13:45 remaining in the first half. From there, neither team could find the basket in the next 2:43, until the visitors took their first lead of the night on a free throw by Mike Church. A lay-up by Cullen Murray-Kemp put the Marauders back in front 10-9, but the black and gold only got a basket from Rob Coney over the next 3:50.

Elizabethtown's Keith Fogel knocked down a three to give the Blue Jays their largest lead of the first half at 27-20, but the Marauders answered with five consecutive points from Bates to trim the Elizabethtown lead to two with 45 seconds remaining in the first half. The Blue Jays increased the lead slightly and took a 29-26 advantage to the locker room.

The Marauders were not going to lay down against their longest standing non-conference rival. Millersville used contributions from Makal Stibbins, Bates, and Blake to spur an 8-0 run to start the second half and took a 34-29 lead in the process. Elizabethtown answered the Marauders' run with a 6-0 run of its own to take a 35-34 lead with 15:43 to go.

A trey from Murray-Kemp put the home team back in front, but it was the last lead Millersville saw. The Blue Jays used strong ball movement and strong perimeter shooting to run their lead to double figures at 53-43 with 8:26 to play.

The Marauders comeback effort started with a Palmer McDurfee three that cut the deficit to seven, before back-to-back Stibbins' lay-ups cut the lead to three. Millersville would get no closer than three the rest of the way, however, as Elizabethtown converted on its opportunities at the charity stripe down the stretch.

Keith Fogel led the Blue Jays with a game-high 18 points, while Joe Flanagan pitched in with 11. The Maruaders were led by Bates, who put up 16 points before fouling out. Stibbins was once again a strong presence for the Marauders, recording a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards. It was the senior's fourth double-double in six games this season.

Millersville returns to the court Saturday afternoon when it hosts West Virginia State at 2 p.m. in Pucillo Gymnasium. The Marauders will be looking to snap a two-game skid and avenge last Saturday's 86-70 loss at the hands of the Yellow Jackets.