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EAST STROUDSBURG – Sophomore guard Whis Grant scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half, including two key three-pointers in the final six minutes, as East Stroudsburg University upset No. 16-ranked IUP, 57-55, in PSAC men's basketball on Friday night at Koehler Fieldhouse.

Senior forward Terrance King added 16 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots for the Warriors (8-2, 5-1), who won a match-up of the last two PSAC champions. ESU won the 2012 title while IUP had won the previous two crowns, in 2010 and 2011. Both schools have made the PSAC Final Four in each of the last three years.

ESU takes over sole possession of first place in the PSAC East with the victory. Millersville, also 4-1 entering the night, fell to 8-2 (4-2) with a 69-64 loss to Slippery Rock.

The victory comes four years to the day of the Warriors' last win over a ranked opponent, a 52-49 win at No. 4-ranked Gannon on a three-pointer at the buzzer by Aaron Pinckney on January 4, 2009. ESU improves to 4-13 against ranked opponents under head coach Jeff Wilson and 3-21 all-time against ranked opponents at Koehler Fieldhouse. The only other wins came in 1998 over #6 Pitt-Johnstown (80-70) and 1972 over #4 Cheyney (74-70).

Grant hit ESU's first three-pointer of the game after IUP (8-2, 4-2) took its only lead of the night, 44-43, on three free throws by Mathis Keita (23 points) with 5:32 left. Grant knocked down the three the next time down, then hit another to put the Warriors ahead 52-47 with 2:45 left.

IUP scored the next four points at the foul line to get within 52-51 with 1:14 remaining. King went to the line and made both to put ESU ahead by three (54-51) with 50 seconds left, but fouled out on IUP's next possession as Marcel Souberbielle scored with 20 seconds to go. Souberbielle missed the game-tying free throw and junior forward Zechariah Runkle grabbed the defensive board.

Grant gave the Warriors a 56-53 lead with two free throws with 14 seconds left, and after Scooter Renkin made one-of-two for IUP to get within 56-54, senior forward Gerald Bridges sealed the victory with one-of-two with five seconds left. Keita hit a long two-pointer at the buzzer to set the final margin.

ESU led from almost start to finish, with the exception of ties at 2-2 and 43-43, when Keita gave IUP its only lead. The Warriors held at least a four-point advantage for 26 minutes – from 15:45 of the first half until 10:00 of the second half – as Devon Cottrell converted a three-point play to get IUP within 38-35.

ESU's lead was never greater than five the rest of the way, but they held off the Crimson Hawks down the stretch. After Grant hit his first three for a 46-44 advantage, the Warriors pushed it to four as Grant stole an inbounds pass and pushed it ahead to senior guard Blair Ramsey for a fast-break bucket.

Keita and Grant traded three-pointers that left ESU with a five-point lead (52-47) with 2:45 remaining. Souberbielle and Renkin both converted a pair at the line to get IUP within 1 with 74 seconds left and set up the finish.

King had 10 of his 16 points in the first half as the Warriors led 28-22 at intermission.

Bridges added eight points, four rebounds and three steals and junior forward Zechariah Runkle had four points, seven rebounds and three steals off the bench.

Renkin (9 points, 5 rebounds), Souberbielle (8 points, 5 rebounds) and Devante Chance (6 points, 8 rebounds) complemented Keita's 23 points and seven rebounds for IUP.

The Warriors look for a 2-0 weekend on Saturday night against California in a game that will be televised on Blue Ridge TV-13. Cal won 79-71 at Kutztown to even its record at 5-5 (4-2 PSAC West).

GAME NOTES
* IUP had won the last 4 meetings, including match-ups in the PSAC semifinals in 2010 and 2011. IUP won 67-63 at ESU in the 2010 PSAC semifinals, 78-72 at home in the regular season in 2011, 81-72 at home in the 2011 PSAC semfinals, and 65-64 at ESU on a putback by Souberbielle with 4.2 seconds left in 2012.
* ESU's other wins against ranked opponents under Wilson are 2009 at #4 Gannon (52-49), 2008 at #24 California (83-71) and 2004 at #23 Mansfield (84-81).
* ESU is 9-50 all-time against ranked opponents.

* King moved to 18th (from 22nd) on ESU's career scoring list with 1,081 points. Sr. F Duane Johnson ranks 17th with 1,105 points.
* Johnson played in his 100th career game for ESU. The Warriors are 68-32 in Johnson's career to date, which includes the 2012 PSAC championship and three straight PSAC semifinal appearances.
* King played in his 99th career game and will hit the century mark on Saturday against California.