WEST CHESTER, Pa. - Jaden Faulkner made a free throw on each of Millersville's final two possessions--the second coming with seven seconds left--to erase a late one-point deficit and top West Chester 73-72 in Hollinger Field House Wednesday evening. 

While the Marauders (12-4, 6-4 PSAC) led by as many as 14 in the first half, West Chester (8-5, 3-5 PSAC) had rallied to lead by as many as seven in the second. But over the final 10 minutes, neither team led by more than four, the game stood tied three times and the lead changed hands five times. Faulkner's first make from the line came with 42 seconds left and was followed by travel violation on West Chester. With the game tied 72-72, Millersville put the ball in the hands of Faulkner at the top of the key. He let the clock tick until driving toward the hoop where he was fouled. He made the second of two attempts. West Chester had plenty of time for an answer, and the ball found Kyle McGhee open for a 3-pointer in front of his team's bench. The shot hit iron as time expired. 

The win was Millersville's first at West Chester since 2013 and just the fifth in the last 31 games dating back to 1991. James Sullivan matched his season-high with 22 points, giving him three-straight games with at least 21, and he did it playing most of the second half with four fouls. Khari Williams added 17 points, sinking 9-of-12 free throws. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS
• West Chester entered the game ranked third in the PSAC in scoring offense at 86.5 points per game, but Millersville held the Golden Rams to 28 points on 25% shooting in the first half for a 10-point lead. The lead stood at seven when Sullivan went to the bench with four fouls at 15:53 on the clock. With Sullivan off the floor, West Chester ripped off a 14-0 run in fewer than three minutes. Sullivan returned with the Marauders trailing 53-46 and immediately scored a bucket to end West Chester's streak. Sullivan scored 12 of his 22 points in the game's final 11:46, and after his return, Millersville out-scored West Chester 27-19. 
• With 2:41 on the clock, Millersville received some offense from an unexpected source. Jahme Ested drove the basket for a score and was fouled. His hoop gave the Marauders a 67-66 lead. While he missed the free throw, West Chester tipped the ball out of bounds on the scramble for the rebound. On the ensuing possession, Williams was fouled, and he sank both free throws for a three-point Millersville lead. Millersville held on to the lead until Dame Wall's two foul shots gave West Chester a 72-71 lead with 55 seconds left. Then came Faulkner's two clutch makes from the line. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• West Chester entered the game ranked No. 2 in the PSAC in rebounding and No. 1 in offensive rebounding. Millersville stayed right with the Golden Rams on the glass, trailing 42-41, but it improved the Marauders to 10-0 when grabbing at least 40 rebounds. 
• Millersville made just 4-of-16 3-pointers but overcame that by holding West Chester to 36.2% shooting from the field and 29% shooting from three. 
• Along with Sullivan and Williams, Faulkner cracked double figures with 13 points. Williams led the team with four assists, and Caden Najdawi led the Marauders with nine rebounds and three blocks. 

POST GAME REACTION FROM HEAD COACH CASEY STITZEL
• On executing the game plan: "We wanted to make them play and guard in the half court. We had a little spurt where we turned it over too much. The second half we came out a little flat, and they came out with a lot of energy. That got them out into transition, and we took some quick shots that helped them get into transition. We went back to James who had four fouls, and he willed us back in it from the seven-point deficit. We kept them to shooting in 30s. The mental toughness was big. This team has been seasoned. Down seven, they didn't panic. We just stayed in and made the last run. I'm proud of them that we've made that progress."
• On Sullivan's offensive play: "He came into the season with high hopes, and he put some pressure on himself. Since Christmas break he has enjoyed playing again. When he went in with four fouls he had that look. And even when he went out, he did a great job leading and talking. He's a winning basketball player. He's taken his game to a different level."
• On quality minutes from the bench: "The thing with younger players is that they aren't used to being role players or coming off the bench. They are used to being the man. For Jahme, that was the adjustment. We are asking him to be a dog on defense, and he made that huge play late. Ryan (Davis) has been great with two back-to-back games, really responding after the ESU game. I will throw in Justin (Nwosu) as well. He really fought on defense and rebounded even though it wasn't his day offensively. Jaden did a nice job on offense in the first half. I'm proud of the culture 
that we've built."

NOTES
• Millersville has won five of its last six games and has held four of those six opponents to under 40% shooting from the field. Millersville has also not allowed more than 75 points in the stretch.
• Millersville held West Chester to its second-lowest point total and its second-lowest shooting percentage of the season.
 • Sullivan is the first Marauder since Marcus Adkison in December of 2018 to score 20-plus points in three consecutive games. 

 NEXT
• The Marauders return to Pucillo Gymnasium on Saturday, Jan. 22 to take on Mansfield at 3 p.m. Millersville then plays four of the following five games on the road.