MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - That was a win that the Marauders needed. For a Millersville team that had dealt with a bevy of injuries and misfortune, it needed a boost. On Monday, playing against an East Stroudsburg team they had lost to eight-straight times, the Marauders did just about everything right for an 82-79 victory inside Pucillo Gymnasium. 

The Marauders successfully navigated East Stroudsburg's 40-minute, full-court press and took advantage of the press break, torching the nets with 60.4 percent shooting and hitting 8-of-11 threes including a pair of clutch makes from James Sullivan late in the second half. Millersville had fewer turnovers (15 to 16) and more steals (nine to seven) than the Warriors, who lead the PSAC in steals and turnovers created. Sullivan made 9-of-11 from the field, 3-of-4 from three for 26 points while also adding a team-high five assists. Justin Nwosu hit 9-of-12 shots for 21 points. 

Millersville snapped East Stroudsburg's five-game winning streak to improve to 6-7 (3-4) while ESU slipped to 8-4 (4-3). 

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Against East Stroudsburg, there is always a threat of the big run, and while it came late, Millersville managed to stay in front with timely free throws and key defensive stops in the final minute. The Marauders trailed 46-43 at the half but a switch to a 2-3 zone defense slowed ESU's pace, and Millersville scored points on each of the first six offensive trips to take a lead. The Marauders built their lead to as many as 68-57 with 10:11 left and maintained a double-digit advantage until 3:23 left when Sullivans buried a deep three with time running out on the shot clock. That's when the ESU run started. 
• Kitt Najee Walls attacked the hoop for two. A Millersville turnover turned into another quick score. Millersville missed a jumper on its next possession, and Marc Rodriguez splashed a three in front of the ESU bench to cut Millersville's lead to 80-77. Then, dealing with pressure in the backcourt, Khari Williams was whistled for an offensive foul. Michael Weiss dropped in a layup off a Troy Jones penetration make the score 80-79 with 56 seconds left. The Marauders managed to drain the clock to 32 seconds before Caden Najdawi drew a foul. Najdawi made the first and missed the second, but Nwosu out-jumped the Warriors for an all-important offensive rebound. Sullivan was fouled but missed the front end of a one-and-one. East Stroudsburg worked an open 3-pointer for Jones, but his shot missed. Williams grabbed the board for Millersville with nine seconds left. Sullivan was eventually fouled and he made one-of-two again for a three-point lead. East Stroudsburg's last chance to tie ended up in the hands of Justin Paz, who had attempted just two shots all game. Nwosu got a piece of the shot and time expired with the ball in the air. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Sullivan scored 18 of his 26 in the second half and made all three of his attempts from 3-point range in the last 20 minutes. Nwosu handled the scoring load early, scoring 15 of his 21 in the first half. 
• Mekhi Hendricks totaled 13 points and made 2-of-2 from three, hitting double-figures in points for the third consecutive game. Brandon Craig provided the Marauders with lock-down defense, leading the team with four steals while blocking two shots. 

POSTGAME REACTION FROM COACH STITZEL
• On how Millersville handled the press: "There were probably less than five turnovers where (East Stroudsburg) was able to score off of them. We did a good job breaking it. We have an advantage with how our bigs can handle it a little bit. Justin and Caden are good passers. Ryan Davis is more like a guard. That helps us. The guards did a great job breaking it. We broke it to score and broke it to run half court offense. I was really proud of the effort. Aside from a couple of miscues I don't think we could have handled it much better."
• On Sullivan's shooting: "I got on him after the Ship game. I told him 'this isn't the previous years where you can lean on guys to bail you out. We can't have 1-of-7's and a non-aggressive James. Tonight he came right out at the beginning of the game and made plays for himself and for others. He attacked the rim. He had his pull-up. We ran a set for him late in the game and he hit a big three. If we are going to continue to win, guys like him and Khari need to hit those shots."
• On what this win does for the team: "It's huge. We needed a couple of wins. I got on the guys at practice yesterday about believing every minute. Sometimes we start the game focused but struggle with adversity throughout the game. Tonight, we never let them make that run where it went from us up eight to them up six. It's a good league with good coaches and good players. Teams will go on runs but you have to be able to withstand it. I thought we did a good job of that today. We need confidence and swagger. If you can beat a good team on your home court, it helps with that."

NOTES
• Millersville Athletics took donations during the game to support East Stroudsburg basketball player and Lampeter-Strasburg High School graduate Ryan Smith who continues to battle Leukemia. Smith was in attendance for the game, and the crowd generated more than $3,800 of support for the Smith family. 
• The win was Millersville's first over East Stroudsburg since 2015. 
• Sullivan has scored 20 or more points three times this season while Nwosu topped 20 for the first time this season. 

UP NEXT
• Millersville hosts Kutztown on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Tip is 7:30 p.m.