MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Drew Stover put on a low-post performance for the ages in Millersville's 88-68 win over Lock Haven. The senior made 15 of 16 shots and scored a career-high 32 points, giving Millersville its fourth consecutive win and a guaranteed home game in the upcoming PSAC Tournament. 

Stover came oh-so-close to matching Larry Bragg's longstanding school record of 16 of 17, set in 1992. Stover dunked in transition, made hook shots in the paint, and put back offensive rebounds. He totaled six offensive boards and finished with nine total in addition to two assists, two steals and a block. He sank all nine of his first half shots for 20 points. His 32 points were the most scored by a Marauder this year, and it was his second 30-point game. 

Most importantly, it improved the Marauders to 17-9 overall and 13-6 in PSAC action, moving them into third place in the East, a game behind East Stroudsburg for second. 

"I think there was a time a couple of weeks ago where Drew was putting too much pressure on himself and not enjoying his senior year enough," said Millersville head coach Casey Stitzel. "Ever since we had a conversation about that he's been having more fun and leading. He's one of those guys who has won championships, played in front of big crowds. He knows how to do it. He's a great kid. He lets me coach him hard." 

In his last three games, Stover has made 35 of 40 shots and averaged 24.7 points per game. Saturday's performance moved him ahead of Stitzel's father, Glenn, into 34th on Millersville's all-time scoring list with 1,197 points. 

All five Millersville starters scored at least 10 points. Aiden Gair scored 11 and handed out six assists. Jahme Ested scored 11, Aamir Hurst added 10, and Saraj Ali finished with 10 points, five assists and two steals. Millersville sank 57.1% of its shots in the opening 20 minutes, scoring 51 first-half points for a 22-point halftime lead. Millersville led for 37 minutes of the 40-minute game. It was the fourth consecutive game shooting at least 50% from the field, and the 22 assists were the Marauders' most since Jan. 18. 

"We've played really well at home offensively during this home stretch," said Stitzel. "Honestly, we left some points out there in the second half with missed lay-ups and foul shots, but we had 16 assists in the first half. Guys were moving. We did a great job of getting Drew and Saraj the ball inside. We thought we had a mismatch there, and that opened up shots on the perimeter." 

Millersville, now 16-0 when building a halftime lead, let Lock Haven creep back to within 10 points on two occasions in the second half. The Bald Eagles made 11 of their first 15 shots out of the halftime break and made the score 63-53 with just over 10 minutes remaining, and then 66-56 with 8:31 to play. But then Aiden Gair made his first 3-pointer of the game, extending his streak of games with a three to 19, and the Marauders got Stover back involved. Stover scored six of the Marauders' 11 in a three-minute stretch in which they put the game out of reach. 

Millersville's bench played a key role late in the second half with Ested and Stover in foul trouble. Dante Weise played 23 minutes, totaling five rebounds, three assists, two steals and countless hustle plays. 

"We are getting into more of a rhythm," said Stitzel. "There is still room for improvement. The first 10 minutes (of the second half) we took the foot off the pedal. But I'm really proud of this group. We had some bad breaks, but they've stayed together." 

STITZEL HITS A MILESTONE

• Saturday's win was the 250th of Stitzel's career. He compiled 116 in eight seasons at Delaware Valley before winning 134 in his eighth season at Millersville. In 2016-17, he inherited a team that had won a program-low four games the previous season. He's now put together six consecutive winning seasons--a feat not accomplished at Millersville in 30 more than 30 years. The Marauders won PSAC East titles and reached the NCAA Tournament in 2022 and 2024. Stitzel ranks fifth all-time in wins at Millersville and his .573 winning percentage is fourth among coaches with at least six seasons. 

UP NEXT

• Millersville enters the final week of the regular season with two challenging games on the slate. A road game at PSAC East-leading West Chester is Wednesday before Senior Day on Saturday, March 1 against Shepherd. Millersville beat West Chester 91-55 at home on Jan. 29 and lost 63-52 at Shepherd on Jan. 11.