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EAST STROUDSBURG – No. 12-ranked East Stroudsburg University opened the second half with a 13-0 run which proved to be the difference in a 60-54 win over Mercyhurst on Saturday afternoon at Koehler Fieldhouse.

The Warriors remain unbeaten (11-0) entering the holiday break after coming back from a 28-24 halftime deficit, forcing 11 second-half turnovers, including six in the decisive stretch after intermission.

Junior guard Whis Grant scored 19 points, going 12-for-15 from the free throw line, freshman forward Rasheed Moore scored 11, sophomore guard Jamal Nwaniemeka had nine points and eight rebounds and senior forward Zechariah Runkle grabbed 10 boards as the Warriors outrebounded the bigger Lakers, 41-40.

ESU's 11-0 start is the fourth-best in school history, and second-best in the last 70 years. The Warriors opened 13-0 in 2009-10 (finishing 24-6), and 12-0 in both 1942-43 (entire season) and 1941-42 (18-1).

The Warriors also extended their home non-conference winning streak to 36 (since November 2007), and improved to 38-9 against the PSAC West in the last seven-plus years – including 19-4 at Koehler Fieldhouse.

ESU, the PSAC leader in scoring with 90.5 points per game entering the weekend, was held under 75 points for the first time this year – but relied on its defensive effort to earn its 11th straight win.

Mercyhurst (5-5) had just four turnovers in the first half, but struggled with ESU's pressure in the first six minutes of the second half.

Grant scored six of his 13 second-half points in the run, and Moore scored the go-ahead points with a steal, layup and three-point play for a 31-28 advantage 2:36 into the period.

Grant knocked down a jumper after an offensive rebound, then hit two free throws, and junior guard Matt Tobin (5 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists) set up a layup by redshirt junior guard Muhamadou Kaba for a 37-28 lead.

ESU's lead remained between five and nine points until late in the contest, when Jean Onana (15 points) hit a three-pointer to bring Mercyhurst within 54-51 with 51 seconds left.

Grant went to the foul line, made the first and missed the second, but tracked down his own miss to get the Warriors an extra possession. Nwaniemeka made 1-of-2, then Onana missed a three-pointer and Nwaniemeka pitched ahead to Moore for a transition dunk for a 58-51 lead with 20 seconds left.

Tobin played 36 minutes, including all 20 in the second half, and helped the Warriors finish with just 10 turnovers.

ESU held a +5 advantage (15-10) in turnovers after entering ranked fifth in Division II in turnover margin at +8.0.

The Warriors were 28-for-38 at the foul line, compared to 10-for-14 for Mercyhurst, to overcome their toughest shooting performance (28.3 percent, 15-for-53) of the season. They came in as the PSAC leaders at 49.3 percent, and shot better than 40 percent in their first 10 games.

Mercyhurst shot 36.2 percent (21-for-58), including just 9-for-29 in the second half. Both teams struggled from the three-point line, with ESU at 2-for-18 and Mercyhurst 2-for-17.

The Warriors are off until January 3 and 4, when they welcome Gannon and Clarion to Koehler Fieldhouse. Both games on Friday and Saturday start at 3 p.m., following the women's games at 1 p.m.


GAME NOTES
* ESU has a 10+ game winning streak for the 4th time in 7 years - also: 14 (2012-13), 13 (2009-10), 13 (2007-08)

* ESU's 11 wins are its most before January 1 in school history - previously: 9-0 (2009-10), 8-0 (1971-72), 8-1 (1993-94), 7-1 (1970-71)

* ESU had previously won 6 straight games by 10+ points.  The Warriors have won 9 of 11 games by double figures.  The 6-point margin vs. Mercyhurst was ESU's closest this season.

* The Warriors are 38-9 against PSAC West schools in the last 7+ years (since the 2006-07 season), going 19-4 at home and 19-5 on the road.
* They have three PSAC West games remaining this year - home games Gannon and Clarion, and a trip to new member Pitt-Johnstown.

* ESU has won 36 consecutive home non-conference games, including an 88-86 (OT) win over Mercyhurst on January 4, 2011, as the Warriors overcame an 11-point deficit in the final 57 seconds of regulation.
* ESU's last home non-conference loss was November 27, 2007 vs. Nyack (64-59).
* The Warriors have two home non-conference games remaining this year - Gannon (Jan. 3) and Clarion (Jan. 4).

* ESU finishes 2013 with a record of 26-5 during the calendar year - 15-5 to finish 2012-13 (22-7 overall), and 11-0 to start 2013-14.
* The Warriors opened and closed the year with winning streaks of 10+ games.  They won their first 13 of 2013 (part of 14-game streak overall), and are 11-0 to open 2013-14.

* ESU will enter 2014 with 990 wins in program history, with 15 games remaining in the regular season.