EDINBORO, Pa. - Edinboro's 3-point barrage was no match for the shot-making of Millersville's Day Waters and E.J. Matthews-Spratley. The duo made timely shot possession after possession down the stretch and helped Millersville pull past Edinboro 85-73 for a fifth consecutive win. 

Waters scored 23 points on 6 of 12 shooting, making 9 of 9 free throws, and Matthew-Spratley scored 18 to go with five assists and no turnovers. Cesar Tchilombo totaled 12 points and a career-high 15 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. 

Waters (10) and Matthews-Spratley (8) combined for 18 of Millersville's final 25 points scored in the last 10 minutes. 

"E.J. is figuring out what we want from him and what it takes to play at this level," said Millersville head coach Casey Stitzel. "We have multiple guys who can do things well late in the game. Aamir (Hurst) has also made some big shots. You have to play (Matthews-Spratley and Waters) at the 3-point line, and then they can get to the rim, make shots and make passes to open teammates."

That's just what the Marauders drew up for a game-changing possession with just under three minutes to play. Edinboro had ripped off a 10-4 run to cut Millersville's advantage to 73-70. Stitzel called timeout and designed a play to free Waters for a shot at the top of the key. Matthews-Spratley drove, pulled the defense to him and kicked it out to Waters, who was fouled as he splashed in the 3-pointer. He canned the free throw, and Millersville closed the game on a 12-3 run, making all three shots and all five free throws. 

"Execution," said Stitzel. "Late in the game, we have to get out to shooters, get rebounds, execute on offense. On the play we ran out of the timeout to get Day set up for the four-point play, E.J. did a great job controlling the tempo and getting it set up."
 
Entering the game, Edinboro had shot better than 33% from three just once in seven games, but it drilled 14 of 29 against the Marauders, and Rowan Carmichael made 7 of 10 for 23 points. He fired away from well behind the 3-point line and no matter the range, he continued to find the bottom of the net. Evan Berger, a 19% shooter on 43 attempts entering the game, made 4 of 10. 

"Carmichael put on an unbelievable show," said Stitzel. "They did a good job spreading us out. In the second half, we had to play it differently. When they cut it to three and we got the four-point play, we did a really good job of making them drive, bringing them to Cesar and forcing them to make tough shots at the rim."

Edinboro relied heavily on the outside shot with well more than half their points coming on its 14 threes. As a result, Edinboro shot just six free throws while Millersville attacked the basket and got to the line 28 times, making 23. 

Millersville has now won four in a row over Edinboro, including two in a row on the road for the first time since 2005-06. The 85 points were also the most scored in a regulation game at Edinboro since the 1990-91 season. 

UP NEXT
Millersville closes the 2025 calendar year with home games against Bowie State (Dec. 19) and No. 15 Gannon (Dec. 21).