MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Day Waters' four-point play, and
Matt Dade's 3-pointer on Millersville's first two offensive possessions set the tone for a convincing 99-78 rout of previously unbeaten and No. 11-ranked Gannon Saturday in Pucillo Gymnasium. Dade topped 1,000 career points on his way to a career-high 34, and Waters added 20 as Millersville scored a season-high total while also holding the Golden Knights to 38 points below their season average.
Gannon (10-1, 4-1 PSAC) entered the game as the nation's leader in scoring offense (116 points per game) and had scored at least 97 in each of the first 10 games. But the Marauders' guards adeptly handled the Golden Knights' frantic full-court press, and the half-court offense was executed brilliantly. Millersville shot a season-best 66% from the field, made 8-of-12 3-pointers and sank 25-of-31 free throws.
"We haven't really played a press team all year, but having this game after break, where we were able to work on it for three days with a week off helped," said Millersville head coach
Casey Stitzel. "We had a good game plan that the guys executed well. We matched up good against the press."
By taking care of the basketball and making open shots, Millersville limited Gannon's transition opportunities, and stingy half-court defense is Millersville's specialty. The Marauders' slowed Gannon's offensive pace, contested shots and grabbed defensive rebounds to build a 49-25 halftime lead. Gannon managed just 9-of-29 (.310) shooting from the field and 2-of-11 (.182) shooting from three in the first 20 minutes.
"Your offense can help your defense," said Stitzel. "Watching the film, we saw they liked to bait teams into taking pull-up jumpers and contested threes. We wanted to take wide-open threes from good shooters and open lay-ups. That was the best thing we did all day. We wanted to make them score in the half court. We also did a good job on the glass. They are No. 1 in the PSAC in offensive rebounds, and we won a lot of 50-50 balls."
Dade powered the Marauders with 24 first-half points. He entered the game needing just one point to become the 41st Marauder to score 1,000 career points, and his first shot of the game--a pick-and-pop 3-pointer--put him over that milestone.
"I just wanted to play in the flow of the offense and the flow of the game and focus on winning, because that's more important," said Dade. "If I get 1,000, that's good, but right now, you've got to beat Gannon."
Dade hit another triple two minutes later, and
Jordan Nkoa Abessolo slammed home an alley-oop from
Jaden Faulkner for a 14-0 start.
"Matt was really awesome," said Stitzel. "That was his best game since he's been (at Millersville)."
"It started off with Day's and-one three, and that was a big energy booster for us," said Dade. "Once the offense starts going, it makes the game a lot easier."
Gannon didn't score its first points until after the under 16 media timeout, and didn't make its first field goal until the clock hit 15:38.
"The biggest thing was the way we started," said Stitzel. "You could tell we were tuned in, and that's something we've been on the guys about all year. For the first time we played with a chip on our shoulder. When we are at our best is when people doubt us. That really helped us, and maintaining that is key."
Gannon won its first 10 games by turning teams over in bunches and scoring in waves, but over the final eight minutes of the half, Millersville ripped off a 20-6 run behind 12 points from Dade, extending the lead from 10 to 24.
The Marauders led by no fewer than 15 points the rest of the way. While Gannon's offense heated up with 53 points on 55.9% shooting in the second half, Millersville continued to take advantage of Gannon's press, sinking 68.2% of its shots with 24 points scored in the paint, and making 17-of-20 free throws. After Gannon closed the gap to 64-49 with 11:33 to play, Faulkner answered with a deep 3-pointer. Millersville let Gannon get no closer.
"Every time they made a run, there was an opportunity to miss a couple free throws and let them back in it, but we made four or five straight and that leads to energy."
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Dade and Waters led five Marauders in double-figures. Nkoa Abessolo scored a career-high 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Faulkner tallied 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting while also posting a game-high seven assists and a season-high 10 rebounds. Jahme Ested scored 10 points, made all four of his free throw attempts, and added four assists.
- Millersville held a 34-22 advantage on the glass for the widest rebounding margin of any Gannon opponent this season.
DADE SAID IT...
- On reaching 1,000 career points and scoring a career-high: "In my career, there aren't a lot of times you get to play a team ranked No. 11, and being able to beat a good team like Gannon means a lot. The individual stuff is cool, but if we would have lost it wouldn't have meant much."
GAME NOTES
- The win was Millersville's first over a ranked opponent since March 5, 2022 and its first win over a team ranked inside the top-15 since Jan. 28, 2017.
- The 99 points were Millersville has most scored since totaling 108 vs. Penn State Schuylkill on Nov. 16, 2022.
- Millersville improved to 7-1 at home, with the lone loss coming in overtime to No. 10 Cal U.
UP NEXT
- Millersville travels to Seton Hill for a 7:30 p.m. tip on Jan. 3.
