MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - There's nothing quite like a game in Pucillo Gymnasium to get the Millersville Marauders untracked.
Justin Nwosu drilled all six of his 3-pointer attempts on a record-setting night in which Millersville led wire-to-wire for a 108-46 win over Penn State Schuylkill.
Any lingering memories of shooting 32% from the field and 19% from three in the first two games of the season were quickly forgotten as Nwosu sank a 3-pointer on the game's first possession, and the Marauders made their first three shots of the game. The Marauders went on to hit 18-of-31 from three, tying a school record that had stood since Nov. 26, 2016. Nwosu led the barrage by scoring 23 points and making 8-of-9 shots from the field before exiting the game with more than 12 minutes left and not returning. Nwosu is the first Marauder to take at least six 3-pointer attempts to not miss.
"We played with confidence," said Stitzel. "Being a home helps. The overnight back-to-backs like we had this weekend are tough for young guys. We shot the ball a lot better tonight."
Eight different Marauders made at least one three, and four Marauders finished in double figures. All 12 players who entered the game made a basket. Freshman
Jacob Aryee scored all 17 of his points in the second half, and the exclamation point was a breakaway windmill dunk with two minutes remaining.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Millersville scored the first seven points of the game, and a
Drew Stover dunk gave the Marauders a 21-point lead (30-9) before even 10 minutes had ticked off the clock. In one 10-minute stretch of the first half, Millersville outscored Penn State Schuylkill 33-5. Millersville made 13-of-20 shots while the visitors made 1-of-16.
• Millersville continued to pour it on in the second half, drilling 8-of-14 3-pointers and shooting better than 61% from the field over the final 20 minutes. Aryee scored 12 of his points as part of a 15-3 Millersville run that gave the Marauders a 50-point lead with seven minutes to play.
POSTGAME REACTION FROM COACH CASEY STITZEL
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On the team's focus entering the game: "We have to start with the basics with a young group. So we focused on playing hard, sharing the ball and figuring out defense, rebounding--Millersville basketball. Everyone in this group is playing a new role. We have so many young guys, the first two games was humbling for them. But it was what (the coaching staff) wanted. It's not an overnight or one or two week process, but we have to chip away at it. Playing hard and playing together is a really good start."
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Nwosu did all of his scoring in just 22 minutes of action. He was within three points of his career high, and it was his most points scored since Feb. 25, 2020.
• Freshman
Keith Mency logged his first career start and delivered 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting with four assists and a team-high three steals.
Mekhi Hendricks led the Marauders with six assists. Guard
Jahme Ested scored 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting.
• Freshman Jordan Nkoa Abesselo pulled down a team-high seven rebounds and added eight points.
UP NEXT
• Millersville travels to Chestnut Hill on Saturday, Nov. 19.
