Saturday, February 21
Bloomsburg, PA
3:00 PM
Millersville University
19-8,14-6PSAC
84
at
54
Bloomsburg
7-19,4-16PSAC
1
2
F
Millersville
52
32
84
Bloomsburg
23
31
54
Marauders start fast and storm past Bloomsburg
2/21/2026 3:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - Saraj Ali returned to the lineup after a two-game absence and scored 18 points, including 14 in a dominant first half that led Millersville to a no-doubt 84-54 road win over Bloomsburg Saturday.
Millersville's (19-8, 14-6 PSAC East) win set the stage for a clash with first-place West Chester Wednesday night in Pucillo Gymnasium. A win in their regular season finale would clinch a share of the PSAC East title and possible PSAC Tournament No. 1 seed for the Marauders.
After a sluggish start in Wednesday's win at Kutztown, the Marauders sought a better first 20-minutes, and they delivered at both ends of the court. The Marauders shot 56.7% from the field, got to the line 15 times with 11 makes, connected on 7 of 14 from three and held Bloomsburg to 33.3% shooting.
"That was a very good effort and building block Wednesday," said Millersville head coach Casey Stitzel. "We have to continue to get our defense and rebounding leading to our offense. It was one of our better efforts defensively. When we are locked in and doing the right things on defense we are tough to score on. We always say that defense travels. We didn't have that juice Wednesday, but when you get two road wins in a week in the PSAC you'll take it."
Before Thaddeus Lee's 3-pointer with 27 seconds remaining, Millersville had outscored Bloomsburg 19-3 in a span of four minutes, receiving three consecutive treys from E.J. Matthews-Spratley. The Marauders led by as many as 32 in the first half and took a 29-point lead into the break. Ali scored six of the Marauders' first seven points, and there was little that Bloomsburg could do to keep Ali away from the basket. He worked his way to the free throw line six times in the first half and finished 18 points.
"Saraj being back was huge," said Stitzel. "We get it to him on the block and they over helped so he kicked it for some wide open shots. When we go through dry spells, we go to him because he can get us a layup. We got the ball to him early today, and that got our offense going."
Ali and fellow starters Day Waters (15 points) and Aamir Hurst (four assists, three steals) exited with more than seven minutes remaining in the game. All three played just 22 minutes. Matthews-Spratley finished with 18 points off the bench. Cesar Tchilombo matched a career high with four blocked shots and gathered a game-high 10 rebounds.
"We played nine guys in the first half and the bench contributed and played great," said Stitzel. "The guys who got in at the end kept the energy up and. To be able to rest starters is big. Everyone is beat up--to get Saraj that run in his first game back but not overwork his minutes. Day has logged huge minutes this season. Shout out to Murray Grant and the guys who come to work every day in practice and are huge culture guys. That's what Millersville basketball is all about."
Millersville played an outstanding floor game, committing just eight turnovers while handing out 14 assists. Millersville has now committed just 20 turnovers with 40 assists in the last three games.
"We looked at three stats at halftime: more assists than turnovers, more rebounds and field goal percentage defense," said Stitzel. "At any point in the game, if we can look at the box score and we are better in those three areas, we know we are playing the way we should. We've started sharing the ball well. In the first half, when E.J. was getting hot, his teammates sought him out. We wouldn't have done that in the first half of the season. It's good to see that progress."
Millersville has won six of its last seven with all six wins by at least 16 points. Stitzel's Marauders have won 19 or more games in three consecutive seasons--the first time that's been accomplished at Millersville since a run from 1984 to 1993.
Millersville and West Chester tip Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Millersville's (19-8, 14-6 PSAC East) win set the stage for a clash with first-place West Chester Wednesday night in Pucillo Gymnasium. A win in their regular season finale would clinch a share of the PSAC East title and possible PSAC Tournament No. 1 seed for the Marauders.
After a sluggish start in Wednesday's win at Kutztown, the Marauders sought a better first 20-minutes, and they delivered at both ends of the court. The Marauders shot 56.7% from the field, got to the line 15 times with 11 makes, connected on 7 of 14 from three and held Bloomsburg to 33.3% shooting.
"That was a very good effort and building block Wednesday," said Millersville head coach Casey Stitzel. "We have to continue to get our defense and rebounding leading to our offense. It was one of our better efforts defensively. When we are locked in and doing the right things on defense we are tough to score on. We always say that defense travels. We didn't have that juice Wednesday, but when you get two road wins in a week in the PSAC you'll take it."
Before Thaddeus Lee's 3-pointer with 27 seconds remaining, Millersville had outscored Bloomsburg 19-3 in a span of four minutes, receiving three consecutive treys from E.J. Matthews-Spratley. The Marauders led by as many as 32 in the first half and took a 29-point lead into the break. Ali scored six of the Marauders' first seven points, and there was little that Bloomsburg could do to keep Ali away from the basket. He worked his way to the free throw line six times in the first half and finished 18 points.
Too big. Too strong. pic.twitter.com/RfpCNCVOUn
— Millersville Marauders (@VilleMarauders) February 21, 2026
"Saraj being back was huge," said Stitzel. "We get it to him on the block and they over helped so he kicked it for some wide open shots. When we go through dry spells, we go to him because he can get us a layup. We got the ball to him early today, and that got our offense going."
Ali and fellow starters Day Waters (15 points) and Aamir Hurst (four assists, three steals) exited with more than seven minutes remaining in the game. All three played just 22 minutes. Matthews-Spratley finished with 18 points off the bench. Cesar Tchilombo matched a career high with four blocked shots and gathered a game-high 10 rebounds.
"We played nine guys in the first half and the bench contributed and played great," said Stitzel. "The guys who got in at the end kept the energy up and. To be able to rest starters is big. Everyone is beat up--to get Saraj that run in his first game back but not overwork his minutes. Day has logged huge minutes this season. Shout out to Murray Grant and the guys who come to work every day in practice and are huge culture guys. That's what Millersville basketball is all about."
Millersville played an outstanding floor game, committing just eight turnovers while handing out 14 assists. Millersville has now committed just 20 turnovers with 40 assists in the last three games.
"We looked at three stats at halftime: more assists than turnovers, more rebounds and field goal percentage defense," said Stitzel. "At any point in the game, if we can look at the box score and we are better in those three areas, we know we are playing the way we should. We've started sharing the ball well. In the first half, when E.J. was getting hot, his teammates sought him out. We wouldn't have done that in the first half of the season. It's good to see that progress."
Millersville has won six of its last seven with all six wins by at least 16 points. Stitzel's Marauders have won 19 or more games in three consecutive seasons--the first time that's been accomplished at Millersville since a run from 1984 to 1993.
Millersville and West Chester tip Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Team Stats
MU
BU
FG%
.448
.333
3FG%
.320
.333
FT%
.774
.714
RB
36
33
TO
8
16
STL
11
4
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballMillersville University MBB Post-game Interview with Aamir Hurst (February 14, 2026)
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Thursday, February 05
Highlights: Men's Basketball Millersville vs. Bloomsburg (January 24, 2026)
Saturday, January 24
Highlights: Millersville Men's Basketball vs. Kutztown (January 21, 2026)
Thursday, January 22
