Bloomsburg, Pa. - The last time Millersville men's basketball won at Bloomsburg
Jaden Faulkner was seven years old and in the second grade. On Wednesday, he sank 11-of-13 shots--including his first 10--for 24 points, and his acrobatic lay-up with 10 seconds to play broke a tie for a 73-71 Millersville win--its first at Bloomsburg since 2008.
The Marauders played brilliantly in two four-minute spurts--one in each half--first building a 21-point lead mid-way through the first half with a 17-6 run. Then, in the second, the Marauders took the lead to 21 again (64-43) with 9:02 to play following a stretch of six consecutive shots made and a 13-0 run. Both times, however, the lead slipped away.
"In the good spurts we defended better, executed better, and we got stagnate in the second half," said Millersville head coach
Casey Stitzel. "What is unusual is when you build that second lead, that usually ends the game. That is the first game all year where we have had a big lead and gave it up."
The Marauders' two cold spells nearly cost them the game. They opened the second half by missing their first nine shots, allowing Bloomsburg to pull within eight at 48-40 with 13:07 to play. Then, after Millersville rebuilt the 21-point lead in the second, Bloomsburg out-scored the Marauders 28-7 over the next 8:17. With Millersville leading 71-68 with 36 seconds left, Austin Harriott, who had attempted just four 3-pointers all season, splashed the game-tying triple from the left wing.
Millersville immediately called timeout and drew up a play for hot hand--Faulkner. With Bloomsburg defending in a 1-3-1 zone, Faulkner slipped into the high post, took a pass from the wing, weaved through traffic and with three Huskies contesting, put up a right-handed shot that banked home.
"We actually drew something up for man and they went zone," said Stitzel. "It was a good play by Jaden. We put him in the middle, he got a nice pass and he made a great play. He doesn't play like a freshman. He was the guy we wanted to take the last shot. It was a big-time play from a big-time player."
Bloomsburg still had one more chance. But William Melson's inbounds pass was tipped away by
Jamal Washington. Washington ran down the loose ball and ran out the clock.
"We were going to switch everything," said Stitzel. "They wanted to get it in to Jamal's guy. He has an uncanny ability to read passing lanes and steal the ball. He made a great anticipation play. Any time you can make a play where they can't get a shot up is a big win and a big sigh of relief for us."
Faulkner started the game 10-for-10 and was on his way to challenging Larry Bragg's 16-for-17 Millersville record for field goal percentage in game set in 1992. Faulkner's first miss didn't come until there was just 6:17 left and he missed one more before his game-winner in the waning seconds.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• In addition to his 24 points, Faulkner added a team-high six assists and three steals.
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Caden Najdawi recorded his second-consecutive double-double and fifth of the season with 13 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
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Jamal Washington added 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting.
• Millersville made a season-low four 3-pointers but also committed just seven turnovers--the fewest of the season.
NOTES
• Bloomsburg scored the first points of the game but never led again after the initial 2-0 lead.
• Millersville snapped Bloomsburg's streak of six consecutive wins in the series.
• Wednesday's win was just the second of Millersville's nine not decided by 20 or more points.
QUOTABLE
"The good news is that we got to play a close game and gutted it out. Playing in a close game where we have to make plays and where we dealt with adversity will help us in the long run." -
Casey Stitzel
UP NEXT
• Millersville stays on the road, visiting Kutztown Saturday, Jan. 19. Tip is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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