MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – One quick run in each half made the difference for No. 19 East Stroudsburg in holding off a scrappy Millersville Marauders squad Saturday, 86-75. 

East Stroudsburg's (14-1, 8-1) relentless full-court press has led to 13 double-digit wins and a PSAC-best scoring margin of 24 points per game. It only takes a couple of ill-timed turnovers and a few made shots for the Warriors to increase their lead in a hurry. Millersville experienced that at the close of the first half when one missed shot and one turnover turned into a 7-0 ESU run that took it from a two-point game to a 42-33 halftime lead. And in the second half, with the deficit at 10, the Warriors ripped off a 10-3 run with four consecutive made shots and two free throws off a pair of Millersville turnovers. The Marauders went from striking distance to down 19 in a little more than two minutes of action. 

Seventeen Millersville turnovers translated to 26 East Stroudsburg points. But when the Marauders did handle the press, they were effective. Drew Stover scored a career-high 22 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the field. Matt Dade and Justin Nwosu both scored 12 points, and Millersville shot 50% from the field and recorded 18 assists for the second consecutive game. 

Millersville made East Stroudsburg uncomfortable by deploying its own press as well. The Marauders trailed by as many as 11 in the first half, but a 9-0 run sparked by four Day Waters points and four ESU turnovers brought the Marauders to within 35-33 with 1:46 to play. Reigning PSAC East Athlete of the Year Carlos Pepin had the answer, though, as he grabbed an offensive rebound and drilled a 3-pointer on ESU's next possession to halt the Millersville run and start the Warriors' closing burst. 

Even after falling behind by 19, Millersville refused to go away. From the 11-minute mark into the final minute, Millersville out-scored the Warriors 26-15 by forcing eight turnovers. The Marauders pulled within 83-75 before three late ESU free throws. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Stover topped 20 for the second time this season and matched a career-high with 10 field goals made. He also tied a career-high with three assists. Nwosu tied a career-high with four assists. 
• Pepin, ranked second in the PSAC in scoring, tallied 21 points and nine rebounds, making 9-of-11 shots from the field. The Warriors made just four 3-pointers--nine below their average and their fewest of the season. 
• Millersville limited ESU to a season-low 11 assists and became just the second team to force ESU into more turnovers than assists. 

POSTGAME REACTION FROM COACH CASEY STITZEL
• On the turning points of the game: "I thought there were a couple of plays that made the difference--the offensive rebound and 3-pointer after we got it down to two in the first half. If you get that rebound and get out in transition, could we have tied it, and now the game slows. If we go into the half up two or down two, maybe that changes it. There was a little stretch in the second half where we got sloppy with the ball and missed a couple of bunnies. The good news is that we played really hard. The young guys are learning what it takes to win basketball games. East Stroudsburg came in here with a purpose after losing here last year. I'm sure they had this circled on their schedule, but we didn't back down and kept fighting. We were a few plays away at the end from making it close even with some mistakes."
• On handling the press: "We got back into the game by pressing. Our guys did a good job with it. We haven't pressed much all year. We did an OK job handling their press. There were five or six turnovers that gave them lay-ups. There are two types of turnovers: the touchdown lay-up and the one where you can set your defense. When they get those touchdown turnovers, that's when they start revving up. In the half court, we executed. We wanted to make them guard. For the most part, we did a good job on that."
• On bouncing snapping the recent skid: "Our group will never stop fighting. They had two hard days of practice after Wednesday's game, and they deserved it. When it comes to effort, they fought today. There was a chance that the game could have gotten to 25 or 30 like ESU does to everyone else but we did a better job of getting out of a bad stretch and playing better basketball. It's been a great learning week for a young team."

UP NEXT
• Millersville hits the road for a road game at Gannon on Wednesday, Jan. 18 before a road trip to Lock Haven on Saturday.