MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Justin Nwosu returned from the extended holiday break in fine form, scoring a game-high 19 points to go with five rebounds and four steals, leading Millersville to a needed 69-60 win over Bowie State Wednesday in Pucillo Gymnasium. 

The Marauders (3-3) endured a 40-minute full-court press from the Bulldogs (2-7), and after a shaky offensive start, they scored 40 second half points and cut their turnover total from 14 in the first half down to six over the last 20 minutes. Millersville closed the game on an 8-2 run, stretching the lead at the free throw line, sinking 13-of-14 in the game and 8-of-9 in the final five minutes. 

After three losses in which Millersville was tripped up in the second half, failing to close out leads, Wednesday's win provides a boost for a team full of players still finding their roles. 

"We had our three best practices of the year leading up to this game," said Millersville head coach Casey Stitzel. "The good news is that a lot of the defensive stuff--aside from one little stretch where they got going--translated from practice to the game. The issue for us right now is on offense. We have not figured out yet how to play fundamental basketball...We have to continue to work on taking practice to the game. The game is still a little fast for the young guys. You hope every time out, winning or failing, they learn from both."

Nwosu, two weeks removed from a PSAC East Athlete of the Week award, bounced back from a 3-of-13 shooting performance against Penn State York eight days ago. He carried the Marauders on offense Wednesday, hitting 6-of-9 shots from the field with two 3-pointers, and he made all five of his free throws. He scored nine of Millersville's 17 points in the game's last eight minutes. 

"We lost four all-league players, and Justin thought he had to change his role," said Stitzel. "But he's an energy scorer. He's going to get the three in transition, get that pick-and-pop. He's going to run the court, get steals and set the tone with defensive rebounding. He came back from Thanksgiving break and everything you saw tonight he's been doing for three days in practice. I'm really proud of him for taking practice into the game. We really needed that leadership. The more he does the right stuff the more it rubs off on the younger players."

Millersville's youth also contributed as sophomore big Drew Stover made 6-of-7 shots from the field for 13 points. Freshman guard Keith Mency drew a tough assignment of handling the non-stop press, and he navigated 21 minutes without a turnover and also scored eight points. 

"He's one of the most talented freshmen I've had here," said Stitzel of Mency. "He's playing the toughest position. He can shoot the ball as he should tonight and made some nice passes. He also played really good defense. He's ascending. He's just got to keep working, buying into the process and bring it every day."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Millersville led by as many as 13 late in the first half and held the lead for nearly 34 of the game's 40 minutes. It was a 10-0 run by Bowie State that cut Millersville's advantage down to 27-24 with 58 seconds remaining in the half. Bowie State scored the first seven points of the second half as well for a 32-29 advantage. But Nwosu stopped the run with a bucket, and after a stop, Jahme Ested cashed in a 3-pointer to put Millersville back on top for good. It was part of a 9-0 Millersville run that spanned three minutes. 
• Mark Bradshaw's 3-pointer with 7:41 to play brought the Bulldogs back within one at 52-51. Nwosu, however, countered with a three of his own. Bowie State pulled within three with 1:21 remaining, but Nwosu hit a baseline jumper on Millersville's next possession, Ryan Davis and Mency grabbed steals on back-to-back defensive stands, and Hendricks connected on four-straight free throws to end it. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• It was just the second time this season that Nwosu has led the Marauders in scoring. Stover hit double-figures for the second time in the last three games.
• Mency matched a season high with three steals. Hendricks matched a season-high a career high with six assists. 
• Freshman Ethan Pires saw the first action of his career, playing 8:24 and scoring a bucket. 

MORE FROM STITZEL
• On developing the team's rotation and finding roles: "Drew and Keith were huge off the bench, and now we need someone else to step up at the wing position. Our upperclassmen have to play better. Those guys practiced and played on a 25-win team last year, playing in some of the biggest games of their life. Adjusting to a new role has them overthinking, so hopefully as they settle into their roles we'll get a more concrete rotation."

UP NEXT
• All games against PSAC teams count toward the conference standings in 2022-23, and Millersville plays its first two of the season Friday and Saturday at home as Edinboro and Mercyhurt of the PSAC West come to Pucillo Gymnasium for a back-to-back.