MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – Millersville ran its winning streak to a PSAC-best nine in a row, and this one was emphatic. The Marauders blew open an early lead with pin-point accuracy from 3-point range and played its now trademarked defense for a 78-52 win. 

Millersville (16-8, 13-5 PSAC) started the day tied with Lock Haven (16-7, 12-6 PSAC) and East Stroudsburg for second place in the PSAC East, but pulled into sole possession of that spot, a half-game behind Shippensburg with Wednesday's one-sided victory. But that's become a theme for the Marauders lately, winning their last three by 26, 30 and 40-point margins. They've held five-straight teams to fewer than 60 points--a feat last accomplished by the 1955-56 club. 

The Marauders blanketed Lock Haven's shooters, holding the Bald Eagles to 28.3% shooting, and this was a team that had not shot under 40% all season. The 52 points scored were the fewest of the season for Lock Haven. Leading scorer Jayy Davis, who had scored at least 10 points in 10 of the previous 11, was held scoreless, and he attempted just one field goal. 

"We wanted to take away the three," said Millersville head coach Casey Stitzel. "Early in the year, young guards don't want to get beat off the dribble, so we were backing up off 3-point shooters. Dan (Eacho) and Dexter (Harris) did a great job on the scout and said we really need to make these guys bounce the ball. We did a really good job of saying 'you aren't getting a catch and shoot three.' We made them take it to the rim, and our guys did a great job helping and blocking shots." 

What has made Millersville's recent run so unique is the distribution of production. It is seemingly a different player leading at the offensive end each night, and that was the case again as Jahme Ested became the fifth Marauder to lead the team in scoring over the last nine games, tallying a career-high 16 points, hitting 3-of-4 3-pointers. Matt Dade and Day Waters both scored 10. 

Millersville started the game by hitting its first four 3-pointer attempts, and Mekhi Hendricks was fouled behind the arc and hit all three free throws as well for a de facto fifth three. Meanwhile, Lock Haven mustered just 11 points in the game's first 14 minutes, and Millersville built a 21-point advantage at the half. 

"The second time we play teams, they start to take away our post players," said Stitzel. "The one advantage we have is that Matt is good on the bounce, and Drew (Stover) is probably the best passing big man I've coached. Justin (Nwosu) can make shots. We had a feeling they would double, and the guys did a great job shooting with confidence." 

Play in the second half was disjointed and marred by 26 called fouls, which broke up Millersville's offensive rhythm. Through 12 second-half minutes, Millersville and Lock Haven had combined for 21 points and 18 personal fouls. Despite the offensive drought, Millersville maintained its lead through its defense. The Marauders totaled 10 steals (led by Waters' three) and blocked nine shots. Dade, Ested and Drew Stover all swatted two. 

"Our guys started to understand how important defense is," said Stitzel. "When there are 20 games on film, everyone knows what you run and your counters. You have to get stops and rebounds. We had that drought in the second half but the lead never went under 19 because of the defense. If you have that drought and don't play defense, it's anyone's game. We've stressed defense, rebounding and culture since day one, and they are all bought in." 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Millersville's bench was outstanding again, totaling 34 points, led by Ested's 16. 
• Millersville held a 38-35 advantage on the glass, winning the rebounding battle for the sixth game in a row. 
• Millersville has now won seven in a row against Lock Haven, improving to 21-2 all-time at home. 

UP NEXT
• Millersville now enters inarguably its toughest stretch of the season. With four games remaining, the next three are on the road--at East Stroudsburg, at Shippensburg and at West Chester. All three of those teams are either in first place in the East or are within 1 1/2 games of first. On Saturday, the Marauders head to East Stroudsburg for a 3 p.m. tip.