Millersville University
16-7,11-5PSAC
Mansfield
2-20,1-15PSAC
Marauders take care of Mansfield, move into a tie for first in PSAC East
2/7/2026 6:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Millersville men's basketball led wire-to-wire and received a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds from Saraj Ali, defeating Mansfield 80-64 Saturday afternoon in Pucillo Gymnasium.
Ali, playing against his former team, totaled 14 of his game-high tally in the second half, sinking 8 of 10 shots from the field and 6 of 7 from the line. It was his first double-double of the season. While Millersville's lead was never in true jeopardy, the Marauders did allow the 2-19 Mountaineers to linger. A 17-point lead got chipped down to 60-53 on Ty Barrett's 3-pointer with 9:42 to play, but Millersville responded with a 12-2 run, partially fueled by Ali, who scored six in that stretch.
We liked our match-ups, said Millersville head coach Casey Stitzel. Saraj played downhill. When we got stops and rebounds, we were able to get out into transition, which was huge. I thought he played one of his better all around games, and coming from Mansfield, I'm sure he had a little chip on his shoulder.
With Ali working from the high post and low block, drawing help defenders, it freed up opportunities for front court teammates Jase Holland and Cesar Tchilombo who both had eight points while shooting 4 of 4 and 3 of 4 from the field respectively. Ali's plus/minus of plus 21 led the team and was 10 points higher than any other player.
Millersville shots 53.4% from the field but the PSAC's top free throw shooting team shot just 13 of 20 from the line. That allowed Mansfield to hang around. Juju Pagan also got hot in the second half to keep Mansfield close, scoring 13 of his team-high 21 points. Against a team allowing 91.4 points per game, the Marauders crispness and pace lacked at times on the offensive end.
Overall our effort wasn't acceptable today, said Stitzel. We didn't approach the game the right way mentally. That was the first game in a long time where I don't think we respected our opponent. We didn't have any juice, and some of that may have two tough games already this week. When you play a team you beat by 20 the first time and you are little tired, the tendency is to take the foot off the pedal. It's a learning opportunity for us, and we have a huge game on the road against a really good Shepherd team Wednesday.
Carnell Henderson recorded a team-high five assists and three steals to go with nine points. Henderson was inserted into the starting lineup for the first time all season on Monday, and Millersville won all three games since. E.J. Matthews-Spratley totaled 10 points, sinking 2 for 4 from three.
Millersville improved to 10-3 at home and has held teams to 67 points or fewer in five consecutive home games. Now 16-7 overall and 11-5 in the PSAC East, Millersville moved into a tie for first place with West Chester after the Golden Rams' loss at Shippensburg. Shepherd's double-overtime win over East Stroudsburg moved the Rams to within a half-game of first place as well. Shepherd, now winners of five in a row, hosts Millersville on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Millersville beat Shepherd 69-60 at home on Jan. 15, but Millersville is 3-7 all-time at Shepherd, having lost six of the last seven. The only win in that stretch was in double-overtime in 2023-24.
