MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Matt Dade scored 24 points and Jaden Faulkner scored 21, leading four Millersville Marauders in double-figures in Wednesday's physical, 90-74 win over Kutztown. 

Millersville (14-3, 9-2 PSAC), now winners of seven in a row and 10-1 in Pucillo Gymnasium, scored 60 of its points in the paint and managed to shoot 55.2% from the field despite shooting 1 of 11 from three, missing 10 in a row after Day Waters' 3-pointer on the game's opening possession. But in a game where 45 fouls were called and the teams combined for 61 free throw attempts, Millersville won with Dade and Drew Stover's efficient scoring in the post, and Faulkner's downhill attack. The Marauders attempted just three 3-pointers in the entire second half, relying entirely on getting the ball to the rim. 

"Matt and Drew's chemistry has improved," said Stitzel. "They didn't play much together last year. They are both defending better as well. On offense, we can run that high-low, roll-replace, and both guys are willing passers."

Millersville started slowly, falling behind 27-19 with 8:20 remaining in the first half. But the Marauders roared back to take a 37-35 advantage on Stover's lefty hook-shot in the final minute. Jahme Ested, who tallied a season-high three steals and a career-high seven assists, picked the pocket of a Golden Bear and fed Dade for a fastbreak dunk as the half ended. Millersville took a 41-35 lead into the break, and improved to 11-0 this season when leading at the half. 

Kutztown stayed within striking distance for much of the second half, but with 10 minutes to play, Millersville's trapping defense finally started to wear down the Golden Bears. Millersville scored on seven consecutive offensive possessions, and the last two buckets were breakaway dunks by Dade and Stover off of back court steals. That stretch put Millersville's lead to 69-54--its largest of the game at the time. 

"We haven't used the three-quarter court press much this year, but with Drew in foul trouble, we played smaller and sped Kutztown up," said Stitzel. "That really changed the game. Hopefully we can keep that in our back pocket and use it again." 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Millersville shot better than 50% from the field for the fourth time in the last seven games. 
• The Marauders totaled 20 assists for the fifth time this season and the third time during the winning streak. Millersville committed just 10 turnovers compared to Kutztown's 17. 
• Kutztown scored 35% of its points from the free throw line and shot 26 of 29. Juju Pagan went 14 for 14 and Amir Cunningham made 10 of 11. 
• In addition to Dade and Faulkner reaching double-figures, Stover scored 14 on 7 of 9 shooting. He made all six of his shots in the first half but picked up two quick fouls in the opening three minutes of the second half and played just over four minutes the rest of the way. Day Waters scored 11 points, sinking 6 of 6 free throws. 

GAME NOTES

• Six of Millersville's last seven games have come by double-digits and the Marauders topped 80 points for the fifth time in those seven games. 
• Faulkner topped 20 points for the second consecutive game, and Dade has scored 20 or more four times in Millersville's seven-game winning streak. 

UP NEXT

• While Millersville has won 10 of its last 11 games, its schedule it faces a challenging five-day stretch beginning Saturday at East Stroudsburg followed by a road game at West Chester on Monday and a home game against Lock Haven Wednesday, Jan. 31. Millersville, ESU and Lock Haven are tied for first in the PSAC East at 9-2 and West Chester is one game out of first at 8-3.