MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - For the third time in the last three regular season meetings between Millersville and Shepherd, the game was decided on the final possession. On Wednesday night in Pucillo Gymnasium, Millersville hit its free throws down the stretch to hold off the visiting Rams, 75-71 for a PSAC East victory. 

Millersville (9-3, 3-3 PSAC East) made a season-high 12 3-pointers on 29 attempts, and its eight threes in the first half helped the Marauders to an early lead, but it was its free throw shooting in the final 10 minutes that truly made the difference. The Marauders went 0-for-9 from the field in the final 10 minutes but sank 17-of-20 foul shots to keep hold of its lead. Millersville trailed for a grand total of just 35 seconds, led by as many as 14 points in the first half and as few as one point, 71-70, with 30 seconds to play. 

Khari Williams scored a game-high 22 points, sinking 5-of-10 3-pointers and 5-of-7 free throws. James Sullivan scored 16, hitting 4-of-6 threes before fouling out after 24 minutes. Ryan Davis finished with 11 points, making 7-of-8 crucial free throws in the game's final 10 minutes. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS
• Justin Nwosu, whose 12 points gave him double-figures in four consecutive games, jump-started the Marauders early, scoring the team's first seven points. A Williams 3-pointer with 5:30 left in the first half gave the Marauders their biggest lead of the game at 38-24, but Shepherd closed the half on a 9-2 run that made the score 40-35 at the break. Williams and Sullivan both led the Marauders with 11 points in the first 20 minutes. 
• Millersville quickly extended its lead back to double-figures at 50-39 with 16:16 to go, but in fewer than five minutes, Shepherd sank 5-of-6 shots and slashed the deficit down to 55-51. Despite not converting its field goal attempts, Millersville kept its lead at least two possessions until 1:08 to go when Shepherd's Jerrod Robinson sank a 3-pointer to make it a 69-67 game. On Millersville's next possession, Khari Williams was fouled on a 3-pointer attempt from the top of the key, and he made 2-of-3 to extend the lead to four. Those free throws proved key. Shepherd's Kyle Daggett drilled a 3-pointer off a pick-and-roll play 11 seconds later to bring Shepherd within one. Williams was fouled on the in-bounds pass and sank both free throws. With time winding down, Millersville elected to foul rather than let Shepherd attempt a game-tying 3-pointer. Cam Stephens made the first and intentionally missed the second. Davis grabbed the rebound for Millersville and iced the win by making both free throws. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Shepherd entered the game ranked second in the PSAC in scoring defense, allowing just over 64 points per game. Millersville's 75 points were the most scored by a Shepherd opponent in a regulation game all season. Millersville's 12 threes and 41.4% shooting percentage from three were also the best marks against Shepherd this season. 
• Millersville lost the rebounding battled 31-30, marking the first time this season that it has won a game with fewer than 40 rebounds and its second win while being out-rebounded. 
• Shepherd shot 50.0% from the field for just the third time this season and became the third team to hit that mark against the Marauders. Millersville had lost the previous two times it allowed an opponent to shoot 50% from the field. 

POSTGAME REACTION FROM COACH CASEY STITZEL
• On the team's performance: "The problem right now is that we rebound well and play defense but won't shoot it well. Tonight we shot it better and the foul shooting probably won us the game, and those are pros, but we let our foul trouble and shorter bench effect our defense. We let them dictate the tempo. When we had our run at the beginning it was the opposite. Any time you win in the East, a road or home game, you have to be OK with that. But if we plan on having any chance here on Saturday we have to play better and smarter."
• On speeding up the game against Shepherd: "With our depth it was hard to press. That is one way to speed up a team. And when you are foul trouble it is hard to do that. You have to get stops to get into transition, and they were getting such easy looks that we had to keep taking the ball out of bounds, and they could set up their 2-3 zone. It's been a long time since a team has played us zone for all 40 minutes. I thought we executed well against it but got a little sloppy and our pace wasn't as good."

NOTES
• James Sullivan made his 100th career start and has played in 101 consecutive games. He has not missed a game since coming to Millersville. 
• Williams topped 20 points for the second time this season and the ninth time in his two seasons as a Marauder. 

UP NEXT
• Millersville hosts PSAC East-leading Shippensburg Saturday at Pucillo Gymnasium. The women's game was postponed, so the men's game will tip at 1 p.m.