MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Matt Dade came to Millersville for moments like this. He scored a career-high 37 points on his Senior Day, lifting Millersville into sole possession of first place in the PSAC East with a 93-88 win over No. 15 East Stroudsburg. 

The first game between 20-win teams played inside Pucillo Gymnasium since 1993 coincided with Alumni Day and Senior Day, making for an electric atmosphere. Dade delivered 18 points in the first half and 19 in the second half, scoring three times in the final 2:30 to break ties. He scored nine consecutive points in a stretch when the Marauders most needed it. 

"I knew my teammates had my back, and it felt like one of those games where we were not going to be denied," said Dade. "We knew how much was on the line, and we knew we needed this game for the goals we want to accomplish, but we definitely aren't done at all." 

"Matt came here to play in front of these types of crowds and have a family atmosphere. He was awesome," said Millersville head coach Casey Stitzel. 

Millersville (22-4, 17-3 PSAC) led 44-36 at the half, but ESU's 3-point shooting (7 of 11 in the second half) pulled the Warriors back into contention. Millersville never surrendered the lead, but Lakeem McAliley's 3-pointer with 2:50 to play evened the score at 83-83. Dade answered, drilling a 3-pointer of his own. Justin Paz retied the game 27 seconds later with another three, but Millersville went to Dade again. He drove against McAliley and picked up two free throws, sinking both. ESU's Jaelen McGlone made two free throws to tie the score at 88-88 with 54 seconds remaining, but again, Dade responded.

Dade popped to the top of the key to receive a pass. McAliley aggressively jumped into the passing lane. Dade received the ball from Jahme Ested, and with McAliley overplaying, Dade ripped through and attacked. He crossed through traffic in the lane and finished with his left hand for a 90-88 Millersville lead. 

"Matt took us home," said Stitzel. "That three was huge, and obviously the basket, the two foul shots and the defense."

The Marauders got the stop they needed, contesting Paz's 3-pointer attempt, and Dade did the rest, securing the defensive rebound and drilling both of the subsequent free throws. East Stroudsburg still had time, but Jaden Faulkner blocked Paz's drive to secure the win. 

"We played some good team defense down the stretch," said Stitzel. "(East Stroudsburg) was able to extend the game with how fast they play, and no lead is ever safe. But at the end of the day, Matt makes the big free throws, and how about Jaden making that block? That was huge to keep it a two-possession game. We did a good job of not fouling and not leaving shooters."

Dade made 12 of 18 shots and 11 of 13 free throws, and his aggressiveness put both of ESU's bigs into foul trouble. McAliley was whistled for three in the first half and finished with four playing just under 29 minutes. Nasir Griffin picked up four and was limited to nine minutes.

"I wanted to be aggressive, and challenge the forwards of East Stroudsburg," said Dade. "But to be honest, I was more focused on defense because I had a tough assignment with Lakeem. He's a good player. I'm just trying to play basketball the right way, and I'm lucky to have coaches who teach me to do that." 

The win was especially sweet for Dade as in his two seasons at Millersville and two at West Chester, this was his first over the Warriors. His 37 were the most scored by a Marauder since Khari Williams '22--sitting courtside with his classmates from the 2022 PSAC East title-winning team--scored 39 against Virginia Union in 2022. Most importantly, Millersville has a one-game lead in the PSAC East with two games to play. 

"It's emotional," said Dade. "I'm very lucky to have the support system, from the coaches, to the players on the team, and especially my family. Having my family here means the world, and to be able to have a good performance for them means a lot."

Faulkner, also a senior recognized before the game, scored 11 points and handed out a game-high eight assists. Day Waters played 31 minutes before fouling out and sank 7 of 8 shots for 16 points. Ested scored 11, including a drive for two with 3:06 left immediately after Millersville's lead had been cut to one. Stitzel also praised the performance of his bench. Jordan Nkoa Abessolo made both of his shots and grabbed five boards after Drew Stover was called for two fouls early in the first half. J.D. Gross also made both of his shots, and Jacob Aryee made a 3-pointer spelling Waters late in the second half. 

"We don't win that game without Jordan," said Stitzel. "Jordan came in and was an energizer. He hit a three, made plays on defense, and did a great job on the scouting report. J.D. did an unbelievable job in the first half and got a big rebound at the end. Dylin Borden scrapped and played hard defense and bought into his role. When you have a big win, no one cares who gets the credit."

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Millersville shot 63% from the field and made 8 of 16 threes. Including its 66% shooting performance against Gannon, Millersville shot better than 60% and made eight threes in both of its wins against nationally-ranked opponents. East Stroudsburg entered the game ranked first in the PSAC in 3-point shooting defense. That kind of offensive efficiency isn't unusual, however, as Millersville has made eight threes and shot better than 40% from three in six consecutive games and has shot over 50% from the field in nine of the last 10 games. 
• Playing against an East Stroudsburg press that ranks second in the PSAC in turnovers forced, Millersville committed just 14 to East Stroudsburg's 17. Millersville finished with 17 assists while East Stroudsburg managed 10. 
• Millersville shot 69.2% from the field in the first half and 57.1% in the second half. The Marauders limited ESU to 39.4% shooting and 1 of 9 shooting from three in the first half. The Warriors finished at 47.5% and 8 of 20 on threes. 

MORE FROM STITZEL

• On the atmosphere of Alumni Day: "It's a credit to the guys who have played in the past. We had guys here from the 60's who played with my dad, all the way through the guys who just graduated...Pucillo was unbelievable today, and it shows where the program is. But this wasn't our national championship game. We have a big week coming up, and it starts with preparation Monday for a really good West Chester team and a really good Lock Haven team."

GAME NOTES

• Millersville's eight-game winning streak is its longest since winning 12 in a row in 2022. The Marauders have also won 15 of the last 16 games. It's only loss since Dec. 19 was on the road against East Stroudsburg. 
• Now with a one-game lead in the division, Millersville's simplest route to clinching its second PSAC East title in three years is to win its final two games. Lock Haven, who sits 1 1/2 games back, plays at home against Shippensburg on Sunday before closing with Bloomsburg and Millersville. Of the three teams in the race, only Millersville plays two games against teams with winning records. 
• Faulkner made moves up MIllersville's all-time rankings in both points and assists on Senior Day. He passed Charlie Parker '08 for fourth in assists (456) and jumped Kevin Rowe '96 for 18th in points (1,420). 

UP NEXT

• Millersville hosts West Chester in its final regular season home game Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.