Millersville, Pa .- Millersville made its 2018-19 Pucillo Gymnasium debut Wednesday night and scored a one-sided 78-51 win over visiting Georgian Court. The Marauders placed four players in double figures and received a double-double from senior Marcus Adkison.

It was the Marauders' second-consecutive win by at least 20 points, improving the team to 2-1. The Marauders overcame a slow start, scoring 34 on 38.4 percent shooting in the first half. They blew open the game with a 22-5 run that started with Jamal Washington's 3-pointer with 14:55 to play. Washington's triple made it a seven-point lead, and Millersville held Georgian Court to 1 of 11 shooting and forced four turnovers over the next seven minutes while connecting on 9 of 14 of their own shots. That run pushed Millersville's lead to 66-44, and it continued to grow the lead to 27 at the final buzzer.

"In the beginning we played more like we did on Friday," said Millersville head coach Casey Stitzel. "We were a little tight. That first home game with young guys can be a concern because they may try to make the big play instead of the right play. Because we were tight we weren't flying around on defense."

Defense translated to offense for the Marauders. Millersville held Georgian Court to 9 of 33 (.273) shooting in the second half and generated 20 points off of 21 turnovers. Millersville totaled 10 steals which resulted in 19 fast break points.

"In the second half when we went on a run, that's how we played on Saturday (against Wheeling Jesuit)," said Stitzel. "We shared the ball well, played in transition, created turnovers, got solid stops and pushed off defensive rebounds. We're getting there. We're a very young, talented team that's figuring out how to win."

Last season, Millersville lost seven games after leading at the half, so pulling away from Georgian Court was an encouraging sign for Stitzel.

"Considering we played so many freshmen and sophomores, we probably would have lost this game last year," said Stitzel. "To go up by almost 30 after the way we played in the beginning, that's a good sign for a young group."

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Adkison, the reigning PSAC East Athlete of the Week, had a rough night shooting the ball (4 of 15) , but he made up for it by filling the box score with a career-high 13 rebounds, five assists and four steals.
• Justin Nwosu scored 11 points and impacted the game at the defensive end with three blocks and three steals.
• James Sullivan connected on 5 of 7 shots for 14 points. Classmate Caden Najdawi added 14 points, six rebounds, two assists and a block.
• Jamal Washington hit double-figures for the second consecutive game with 11 on 5 of 11 shooting.

QUOTABLE
• "When you have a talented, smart basketball team that plays smart and plays together, you'll win games when you do the right things on both ends of the court." - Casey Stitzel

NOTES
• Wednesday's game was the first-ever meeting between Millersville and Georgian Court.
• The last time Millersville won back-to-back games by 20 or more points came last season on Nov. 28 and Dec. 2 with wins over Penn State Berks and Clarion. The last time Millersville beat two Division II teams in back-to-back games by 20 or more was in the opening two games of the 2002-03 season.

UP NEXT
• Millersville plays its second consecutive home game on Saturday against Lincoln. Tip is set for 2 p.m.
 

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