Box Score

Cheyney, Pa. - When Millersville and Cheyney meet, the game almost always goes down to the wire. Wednesday's PSAC East contest at Cope Hall was no different. The homestanding Wolves used defense and some late free throws to nip the Marauders, 57-52.

Of the last 19 meetings between the programs, 13 have been decided by fewer than 10 points. One year ago at Cope Hall, the Marauders used a jumper from Palmer McDurfee with three seconds left to earn a 61-59 victory. Wednesday's meeting was a similar physical, defensive struggle but the late-minute Marauder magic was no where to be found.

Millersville (7-11, 2-3 PSAC East) trailed by just one point with 2:27 remaining following two Jason Blake free throws. Cheyney (9-8, 3-2 PSAC East) forced three-straight Millersville misses, though, and leading scorer Sharif Bray dropped in a pair of clutch free throws to extend the advantage to two possessions with 22 seconds left.

Millersville came up empty on its next possession, and managed to stop the clock by fouling James Inge with nine seconds left. Inge momentarily kept Millersville's hopes alive when he missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Tyrone Smith grabbed the rebound for Cheyney and kept it out of Millersville's hands for the final nine ticks.

Neither team led by more than six points over the final 29 minutes. Cheyney's largest lead was nine points, 12-3, at the 12:55 mark of the first half.

The Marauders erased that defecit using a 9-3 run sparked by five points from Blake and four from senior Alen Ahmetovic. Millersville, however, continued to trail until 3-point ace Jim Kelleher came off the bench and drilled a three to tie the game at 22 with 3:32 left in the first period. Ahmetovic scored 23 seconds later to give the Marauders their first lead. Kelleher followed that with another three, and McDurfee hit a jumper to lift Millersville to a 29-26 lead at the break.

Millersville pushed the lead to 34-28 early in the second, but Cheyney pulled back in front just two minutes later using a 7-0 run. For the rest of the game, Millersville led just once more.

Blake scored his 16 on 6-of-14 shooting, giving him double-figures in seven-straight games. He also led the team with nine rebounds. Ahmetovic played an efficient game, totaling nine points, eight rebounds and three assists while not committing a turnover. Kelleher scored all nine of his points from behind the arc.

Smith and Kevin Presberry led Cheyney with 13 points each. Presberry complete a double-double with 10 boards.

Millersville travels to Mansfield Saturday. Game time is 3 p.m.