Marauders looking for four in a row over Raiders

Wednesday, January 10

Shippensburg, PA

8:00 PM

Millersville University

Shippensburg

Marauders looking for four in a row over Raiders

1/9/2024 11:38:00 AM | Men's Basketball

By: Ethan Hulsey, Director of Athletic Communications

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ABOUT THE GAME

Millersville is coming off back-to-back impressive wins over PSAC West teams and having navigated the crossover portion of the schedule with a 4-2 record, the Marauders turn toward the PSAC East and a road game against Shippensburg Wednesday. On Monday, the Marauders moved up to No. 7 in the D2CSC Atlantic Region Poll and have won five of their last six. All three of Millersville’s losses have been by 10 points or fewer, and Millersville is the only team in the PSAC to rank in the top five in both scoring offense (77.7) and scoring defense (72.0).

MBB: Quick strike! Marauders executing late in the game. pic.twitter.com/zXtOtJtfzk
— Millersville Marauders (@VilleMarauders) January 4, 2024

SCOUTING THE MARAUDERS

Millersville’s offense has been efficient as it ranks fourth in the PSAC in field goal percentage (.465) and fifth in both turnover margin and assist/turnover ratio. Millersville has committed single-digit turnovers four times and has tallied at least 12 assists in eight-straight games. The Marauders are also 9-1 when shooting better than 40% from the field. Drew Stover leads the PSAC with a .692 field goal percentage and continues to trend toward breaking John Fox’s 1985 school record of .642. Matt Dade ranks seventh in FG%, making Millersville one of two teams in the PSAC with two players ranking in the top 10.
Millersville has attempted the fifth-most free throws in the PSAC, but early in the season, the team struggled to convert, shooting just 66.7% through the first seven games. Over the last five games, however, the Marauders have made 80% or better four times and are 94-for-116 (.810). Jahme Ested misse his first free throw attempt of the season but has made 17 in a row. Matt Dade is 14-of-15 and Drew Stover is 8-of-8 over their last two games. Day Waters has been consistent all season, however, emerging as one of the top shooters in the PSAC. At 84%, Waters ranks third in the league in free throw shooting. He also ranks third in 3-point field goal percentage (.444). Since going 0-for-5 from three at Mercyhurst, Waters has made 8-of-11.
Millersville is balanced with its production. Four players average between 13.6 and 16.7 points per game. Four players average between 5.2 and 5.8 rebounds per game. Four players average at least one steal. Four players have scored 20 or more points in a game at least twice.

SCOUTING THE RAIDERS

Since starting 4-2, Shippensburg has dropped five of the last six games, allowing 85 or more points four times. All five of those losses were on the road, however, and the Raiders are 3-1 at home. Allowing 84 points per game, the Raiders rank 15th in the PSAC in scoring defense. Yet the Raiders lead the PSAC in 3-point defense, holding opponents to just 28.3%. The issue has been second-chance opportunities. Shippensburg is last in the PSAC with a minus-8.2 rebounding margin, and Shippensburg’s opponents average 46.3 rebounds per game--nearly six more than any other team in the league allows.

SERIES HISTORY

Shippensburg won seven-consecutive meetings from 2018-2022, but Millersville has won the last three, including two in a row at Heiges Fieldhouse. Each of the last five games have been decided by single-digits, and Millersville’s last three wins over Shippensburg have come by a grand total of nine points. Expect a low-scoring game. Millersville has scored more than 67 points just once in its last 10 games against the Raiders. Shippensburg has averaged 56.3 points over the last three meetings.