Box Score
SHIPPENSBURG - A tip-in by senior forward Josh Wentz with 0.2 seconds left lifted East Stroudsburg University to its second straight victory with a 58-56 win at Shippensburg on Sunday.
The Warriors (2-3) led from start to finish until Shippensburg (2-4) capped a second-half comeback with a jumper by Tariek Belcher that tied the game at 56-56 with 21 seconds left. Sophomore guard Andy Heimbach missed the game-winning three-point attempt in the final five seconds, but Wentz got two cracks at the tip-in and the second was good to just beat the buzzer.
Wentz and Heimbach both scored 14 points for ESU. Wentz opened the game with a three-pointer and was 6-of-9 from the field, including both three-point attempts. Heimbach scored just two points in the first half before erupting with four three's in the first 10 minutes of the second half to help the Warriors open a double-digit lead. ESU held a 27-22 advantage at halftime.
ESU led 53-42 with seven minutes left after a basket by senior forward Channon Easley (12 points) before Belcher scored eight points in a 14-3 run that tied the game in the final minute. Belcher had a game-high 22 points and also pulled down 10 rebounds.
Junior guard Pat Fleury had a career-high 10 rebounds and also handed out five assists for ESU. Alex Jones contributed 15 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the three-point line for Shippensburg.
ESU will host the 43rd Annual ESU Basketball Tournament on Friday and Saturday at Koehler Fieldhouse. The Warriors will face Wilberforce in the first round on Friday night at 8 p.m., with the consolation game (3 p.m.) and championship game (8 p.m.) scheduled for Saturday.