MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – Millersville entered the season as a team in search of its identity. In Saturday's 84-73 win over Mercyhurst, Millersville just might have found it. 

The Marauders received 33 points from its bench, placed four scorers in double figures and rallied from a pair of three-point deficits after seeing a lead of as many as 10 dwindle away. Millersville won its fourth-straight game by outscoring the Lakers 23-9 over the final seven-plus minutes, getting crunch-time buckets from freshmen and seniors alike while also getting key defensive stops. 

Freshman Keith Mency was brilliant, scoring a team-high 16 points, shooting 6-of-6 from the line while recording four steals and navigating Mercyhurst's frantic full-court press without committing a turnover. Jahme Ested made 5-of-6 shots for 14 points. Ryan Davis scored 14 points with six boards, and two blocks. Matt Dade added 13 on 6-of-8 shooting. Millersville shot 59.6% from the field as a team, including 69.6% in the first half, building a 43-37 lead at the break. 

The game was a rematch of the 2022 PSAC Semifinals (which Millersville won) and the NCAA Tournament first round (which Mercyhurst won). Three of the Lakers starters on Friday (plus sixth man Jeff Planutis) played in those two games last season, while Millersville had four new starters plus two freshmen and a sophomore coming off the bench. 

"It means a lot from a confidence standpoint and an experience standpoint," said Millersville head coach Casey Stitzel. "Everyone contributed. We take a lot of pride in our culture and sacrificing for our guys. We have a lot of talented freshman not playing for the first time in their lives and they are up standing, cheering and slapping fives. That's what makes me the most proud. Everyone made play. Matt, Gross and Jahme were huge in the first half, and Keith brought us home. Drew (Stover) made some big plays. Mekhi (Hendricks) got out of the shooting slump. Ryan Davis played a really nice all-around game."

Gross scored all nine of his points in the first half including a buzzer-beating turnaround jumper to give the Marauders a 43-37 lead at the break. Millersville built a 10-point lead out of the halftime break, but Mercyhurst's press started to affect the Marauders, and Planutis' 3-pointer capped an 8-0 Laker run, forcing Stitzel to call timeout. Out of the timeout, Davis scored seven-straight points to get Millersville's lead back to seven at 54-47. Mercyhurst, however, continued to chip away and took a 57-56 lead with 11:35 to play, and with just over eight minutes to go, the Lakers still held a three point advantage, 64-61. 

While senior Justin Nwosu struggled with his shot, hitting 1-of-6 in the game, his assist for a Stover dunk and pull-up jumper on the baseline were crucial. His lone field goal of the game gave the Marauders the lead for good. It was part of a 12-2 Millersville run in which Mency scored six points. While the freshman Mency shouldered the load, Hendricks hit the dagger. With Millersville leading 73-70 and 1:55 to play, Mency's drive drew Hendricks' defender just enough, and Hendricks made the Lakers play for its help defense. Ested, who entered the game when Nwosu fouled out, scored on a drive, the Marauders hit six-straight free throws to ice the win including four from Mency. 

Since scoring zero points on one shot in 21 minutes against Penn State York, Mency has averaged 13.0 points per game on 50% shooting with nine steals and one turnover. Millersville has won all three games. 

"When Jaden (Faulkner) went out with his injury, we had to find a point guard. We weren't prepared recruiting wise," said Stitzel. "It was the end of April, which isn't an ideal time. We had a bunch of guys up (for visits), but there was just something about Keith. He played against really good competition in high school and AAU. He's got that North Jersey toughness. He played on the playgrounds in New York City all the time, and you can tell he isn't phased by the moment. We've just stayed on him about bringing it every time, and he's done it three games in a row."

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Nwosu and Hendricks both led Millersville with four assists. Ested's 14 points were a career high. 
• Mercyhurst held a 31-27 advantage on the glass and a 15-3 edge in second-chance points. Planutis led the Lakers with 20 points. 
• Millersville has won four-straight home games against Mercyhurst--a streak that dates back to 2012. 

MORE FROM COACH STITZEL
• On building off the win: You don't get too high or too low. After Chestnut Hill we were really low. After playing two good games we have to make sure we aren't too high. There's something about this group. I thanked them in the locker room. It makes it fun as a coach when you have guys who listen. We've been winning some games but still coming into the locker room and giving them a hard time. They probably look at me and say, 'we won, where are you giving me a hard time?' But I think we are starting to realize the upside of this team. I'm proud of them as players and especially as human beings."
 
UP NEXT
• Saturday was Millersville's final game for 15 days as finals week on the academic calendar has arrived. The Marauders play a back-to-back at Clarion and Pitt-Johnstown on Dec. 18 and 19 before hosting the nation's No. 3-ranked Indiana (Pa.) on Dec. 30.