Shepherdstown, W.Va. - The difference came at the free throw line. Shepherd made 12 free throws in a 15-4 run to close the first half, and Millersville never recovered in an 81-73 season-opening loss Friday night.

Millersville (0-1) shot a better percentage (.472), made more threes (9 for 20), and had fewer turnovers (12 to 14), but while the Marauders shot 10 for 19 from the line, Shepherd hit 25 of 34, including 17 in the first half alone. Millersville took a 29-28 lead on a D'Marco Suggs layup with 4:10 left in the first half, but from there, Shepherd scored 10 of 11 foul shots and made a three while Millersville went 0 for 2 from the field and committed three turnovers.

"One thing we are struggling with, being younger, is what is a foul at this level and what isn't," said Millersville head coach Casey Stitzel. "You try to prepare them for it but when you have guys that haven't been through it, they have to adjust when it happens. Three things: us missing foul shots, the last five minutes of the first half, and Caden (Najdwai) fouling out was big. Having to sit him at the end of the fist half was big because he was playing well, and then he had to play tentative in foul trouble in the second half."

The 41-31 lead was insurmountable for the Marauders. A 7-0 Millersville run capped by five consecutive James Sullivan points pulled Millersville within 61-59 with 8:36 to play, but Shepherd's Jon Preston hit a 3-point on Shepherd's next possession, and the Rams quickly reopened the lead to seven. Millersville pulled no closer than four the rest of the way.

Marcus Adkison sank 5 of 10 3-pointers to lead Millersville with 23 points. Sullivan finished with 15 points on 6 of 11 shooting. Najdawi chipped in 11.

"We are still feeling each other out, working on chemistry," aid Stitzel. "When we push the ball in transition we are tough to guard. At times we get away from that when teams make a run. We are still trying to learn that this isn't high school where you have to bring your team back by yourself. We have to share with our teammates and work that chemistry."

Derek McNight (23), Winston Burgess (22) and Thomas Lang (21) all scored more than 20. Burgess sank 7 of 8 shots, made 8 of 13 from the line and also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Millersville made seven of its nine threes in the second half.
• Shepherd held a 40-28 advantage on the boards and its 13 offensive rebounds translated to 18 second-chance points. Millersville totaled seven second-chance points.
• Seven Marauder freshmen made their debuts. Justin Nwosu started and scored six points and five points in his debut.

QUOTABLE
• "It was what I expected. Some mistakes, some really good things. This is a great game for us--building chemistry. Playing a team we are better than at home doesn't give us any teaching points for the next day in practice. This is a perfect game for a young team. Shepherd is a good team, on their home court, hostile crowd. We were in the game, we were right there and we didn't play our best basketball by any means. But there is so much to get better from. We just have to learn and keep getting better. We have to get to the point where we are getting beat and not beating ourselves. We are getting there, it is a process. This is the type of game that will get us ready for conference play. I think we will be better tomorrow, and this weekend is going to make us a better basketball team."

NOTES
• Adkison has scored 20 or more points 13 times since game two of the 2017-18 season. He has made five or more threes 10 times as a Marauder.
• Friday's game was the first meeting between Millersville and Shepherd since 1993. Millersville is 8-4 all-time against the Rams.

UP NEXT
• Millersville stays in Shepherdstown to play defending Mountain East Conference champion Wheeling Jesuit Saturday. Gannon defeated Wheeling Jesuit 90-75 Friday night.
 

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