MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - With eight minutes to play, three Millersville's starters sat on the bench with four fouls, but the sharp-shooting of Aiden Gair and a spirited effort from the Marauders' bench held the line against East Stroudsburg's withering full-court press and gave Millersville a 92-85 win in the PSAC East rivalry game. 

Gair poured in 23 points, hitting 5 of 12 from three, and Alec Topper played a gritty 17 minutes, scoring 11 points on 4 of 5 shooting while also grabbing seven rebounds against a physical ESU front line. The duo provided Millersville's response every time the Warriors appeared on the verge of taking control of the game. 

East Stroudsburg led for only 17 seconds but out-scored Millersville 24-13 over the first seven minutes of the second half to tie the game at 58-58. However, Gair and Topper drilled 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions, and after an ESU score, Topper drove baseline for a two-handed slam. Millersville extended its lead to 72-63, but ESU quickly went on an 8-0 run to pull within one. Again, Topper and Gair punched back. Topper scored on a dish from Montell Cooper. Millersville got a stop, and Gair hit a step-back jumper. After two ESU free throws, Gair drilled another 3-pointer off a feed from Drew Stover.

"(Aiden) has got the ability to change a game," said Millersville head coach Casey Stitzel. "He's an unbelievable passer. We've been on him about his defense, rebounding and dealing with adversity, and he made some really big shots when they made their run. He got the gym going. He did a nice job with his decision-making."


The play of Topper, Aamir Hurst, Dante Weise and Tobi Ogunbare bought enough time for Millersville to get Jahme Ested, Saraj Ali and Stover back into the game. When they re-entered, Millersville hit East Stroudsburg with the knockout punch. Fastbreak dunks from Ali and Stover highlighted a 9-0 closing run. Stover finished with 19 points. 

"Unreal effort from the bench," said Stitzel. "Aamir was awesome on the ball, made some big shots, got to the rim. Dante made some big hustle plays. Alec was unbelievable--defensively and on the glass. He hit the three and got the dunk when they had momentum. Tobi, I've been on him all year, coaching him hard...we add another level when we can throw in another 6-8 body. They can't post him up. Those four guys were awesome and the bench's energy level was awesome."

It was Millersville's third straight and fifth win in its last six home games against East Stroudsburg, but it was the first experience seven of the players that played key roles in the victory. Despite foul trouble, Ali made 5 of 5 shots for 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Hurst scored eight points with two assists and two steals. Montell Cooper handed out five assists and scored eight points. The game was physical and chippy with Millersville being called for 21 fouls. East Stroudsburg was called for 10 in each half and also picked up two technicals. East Stroudsburg's leading scorer, Lakeem McAliley scored 18 points but played just 17 minutes before fouling out. 

"The biggest thing to get the new guys ready for this game is to try to prepare them, understanding that East Stroudsburg is going to ready to play here," said Stitzel. "Understand what we've done in the past to have success against them. We've been blessed to get them a couple of times so we know what it takes. But you still have to execute it. It was the first time a lot of our guys have seen that press, and to (Jeff Wilson's) credit he changed it up from what we had prepared for. These guys executed well. When Stroud came back, and the whistle got shaky, we answered the bell."

MIllersville forced 20 turnovers--three more than they committed--and scored the third-most points of any ESU opponent this season. The Marauders shot 67.9% from the field in the second half and 55.2% for the game, improving to 10-3 when shooting a higher percentage than their opponent. 

Wednesday's game was Millersville's first at home since Jan. 3, and it has now won four in a row at home. After taking its lumps and losing nine in a row to East Stroudsburg from 2015-19, Millersville has won six of the last 11 and three in a row over ESU for the first time since 2007-08. 

"It's become a rivalry," said Stitzel. "We've gotten ourselves to where we are a top program in the PSAC, and they have been a top program. We don't like each other very much. We play with a chip on our shoulder when we play them. And it's in Pucillo. It feels like its been years since we've been home in front of a crowd."

UP NEXT

• Winners of three in a row, Millersville travels to Lock Haven on Saturday, Jan. 25 before returning home on Jan. 29 for a collision with PSAC East-leading West Chester.