THE MATCH-UP
• Very little went right for the Millersville Marauders in the fall of 2019, and they are certainly hoping that 2020 will hold better health for the team. The schedule, however, starts off challenging with PSAC East play starting against division powers Shippensburg (Friday) and East Stroudsburg (Monday). Millersville's projected preseason starting lineup of
Jaden Faulkner,
James Sullivan,
Khari Williams,
Justin Nwosu and
Caden Najdawi has been fully available for just three of the team's 11 games, and unsurprisingly, the group scored 101 points in 48:38 together, holding a plus-13 advantage. In his six games before his injury, Faulkner was a team-best plus-61 (10.17 per game).
• With Faulkner out, several Marauders have picked up the offensive load. In the last five games, Sullivan is averaging a team-best 17.8 points with a team-high 16 assists. He's shooting 38.9 percent from three in that span as well. Williams has scored 20 points in back-to-back games and is averaging 16.0 points in the last five, shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from three. Sullivan has also been the team's workhorse, logging 40 or more minutes (45 vs. Edinboro) in five of the team's last seven games.
• In the final game before break, several Marauders turned in career performances against California. Freshman
Gerard Mungo scored a career-high 17 points. Sophomore
Brandon Craig blocked five shots and grabbed 13 rebounds--both career highs. Najdawi, tallied his second double-double of the season with a career-high 26 points and 18 rebounds. Najdawi is now up to third in the PSAC in rebounding average (9.0) and is fifth in blocked shots (1.2).
• Heiges Field House has been a tough place to play for the Marauders in recent years, having dropped five in a row and seven of the last eight in the building. Millersville's last win at Shippensburg came in 2015 (61-54). Millersville lost a close one, 81-76, last season after rallying from 20 points down. Millersville scored 47 points in the second half and even took a lead before Shippensburg closed with an 8-0 run.
• The series between Millersville and East Stroudsburg has been all Warriors in recent years. The Warriors have won eight in a row and 20 of the last 23 dating back to 2008-09. The Warriors have won the last four in Pucillo Gymnasium with Millersville's last win in the series coming in 2015 (61-58). Last season, Millersville led 56-55 with 12 minutes left before ESU went on a 15-2 run to pull away.
SHIPPENSBURG RAIDERS (8-3, 4-1 PSAC)
SERIES INFORMATION
Series vs. Ship: 119-70
Series Streak: Ship, 3
First Meeting: 1904 (L, 9-10)
Last Meeting: 2019 (L, 66-75)
Last 10 Meetings: 3-7
Casey Stitzel vs. Ship: 2-5
Chris Fite vs. Millersville: 8-5
SCOUTING THE RAIDERS
• Shippensburg started the season 7-1 and recently snapped a two-game skid by upsetting No. 3-ranked IUP 69-66 at home. The Raiders are 5-2 at home. John Castello leads four Raiders in double figures at 16.5 per game and leads the team in rebounding (7.6). Luke Nedrow was the most recent PSAC East Athlete of the Week.
EAST STROUDSBURG WARRIORS (7-3, 3-2 PSAC)
SERIES INFORMATION
Series vs. ESU: 99-63
Series Streak: ESU, 8
First Meeting: 1912-13 (L, 18-38)
Last Meeting: 2019 (L, 77-85)
Last 10 Meetings: 1-9
Casey Stitzel vs. ESU: 0-6
Jeff Wilson vs. Millersville: 24-13
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
• The Warriors were starting to roll before the holiday break. They have won four in a row--all by double-digits, and they have scored at least 80 six times. Michael Weiss was the most recent PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week. No Warrior averages more than 10.6 points per game, but five average at least 9.2.
