MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Forget game three of the season. Wednesday night's match-up between MIllersville and West Virginia State, two unbeaten teams, provided a playoff atmosphere in Pucillo Gymnasium. Powered by five players in double figures and a smothering defensive effort, Millersville routed the visiting Yellow Jackets 85-64 to improve to 3-0 with all three wins coming by at least 21 points.
West Virginia State (2-1) entered the game having scored 93 points in each of its first two games, but Millersville held the visitors to 33.3% shooting and 5-of-24 shooting from three. Millersville senior
James Sullivan drew the assignment of guarding West Virginia State's top scorer, Glen Abram, and Sullivan nearly erased Abram from the court. Abram came into the game with outings of 35 points and 21 points, and Sullivan, the primary defender, held Abram to 1-of-13 shooting from the field, including 0-of-5 from three. And that wasn't Sullivan's only contribution. At the offensive end, the veteran provided a steadying presence during a high-energy first half and finished with 15 points, four assists and two steals.
Jaden Faulkner led the Marauders with 21 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.
Caden Najdawi got the Marauders rolling early with four dunks in the game's first 10 minutes and finished with 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting and eight boards despite playing just 22:06 because of foul trouble.
Justin Nwosu quietly added a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds and led the team in plus/minus at plus-26.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• In the closing minute of the first half, Sullivan connected on a pull-up jumper for a 31-27 Millersville lead, but that bucket was answered by a WVSU 3-pointer. With time running out, Sullivan found Nwosu for a lay-up, giving Millersville a three-point lead at the break.
• Millersville opened the second half with a dominating six minutes in which it outscored West Virginia State 24-4, hitting 9-of-14 shots from the field while holding WVSU to 1-of-10 shooting. Nwosu started the run with a 3-pointer, and Millersville pushed the lead to 23 on a
Mekhi Hendricks free throw.
• WVSU cut Millersville's lead to 15 with 8:36 remaining, but Faulkner responded with a driving bucket and a step-back 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions to quickly push the lead back to 20. WVSU never got closer than 18 the rest of the way.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Millersville made a season-high eight 3-pointers, with
Khari Williams making 3-of-5. The Marauders shot 50% from the field, including 57.1% in the second half.
• Millersville controlled the glass, out-rebounded WVSU by a 53-29 margin.
POSTGAME REACTION FROM COACH CASEY STITZEL
• On the energy at the start of the game impacting play: "I think for two years, not playing a team with that pace, from our scrimmages or our first two games, nobody plays like that with the pressing and going for steals. It's been so long since we had to adjust to that speed, it took a half. At the half we talked about playing simple, winning basketball. The moral of the story is that even though we didn't play well offensively and turned the ball over too much is that we still guarded. We still held a high-scoring team to 30 at the half and were up three. We did a great job with the ball in the second half and crushed them on the glass.
• On the performance of the bench: "Mekhi got to the basket and made some nice plays.
D'Marco Suggs gave us some great minutes. I'm super proud of him. He's been bought in no matter what is role was the last four years. He really helped us win the game."
• On the veteran presence of Sullivan: "He's a winning basketball player. To be honest with you, not only did he do that stuff, but a couple of times he grabbed me and said 'coach, run this.' He's a smart player with a coach's brain. He never gets tired. His maturity helps him handle the pressure and help other guys out."
• On the halftime adjustment: "Our defensive rebounding got us the three-point lead, but if we wanted to win the game we had to stop turning the ball over and execute better. The issue was on offense but they didn't stop guarding. Caden was great tonight. They are accountable. They know the mistakes they made and no how to fix them. They've been through the wars and failure and know what it takes. It's nice to have that leadership."
NOTES
• Millersville has started the season with three consecutive 20-point wins for the first time since 1923-24, and that team's start the season included wins over teams like the Paradise Club, Franklin & Marshall Sigmas and the Franklin & Marshall Lambdas. It is Millersville's first 3-0 start since 2002-03--a team that went 26-6 and won the PSAC Championship.
UP NEXT
• Millersville plays its first road game of the season Saturday at USciences.
