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East Stroudsburg University Athletics

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Ryan Smith Action4
Bob Shank
Freshman Ryan Smith
87
Shippensburg SHIP-M 17-6, 11-4 PSAC
91
Winner East Stroudsburg ESU-M 14-6, 11-3 PSAC
Shippensburg SHIP-M
17-6, 11-4 PSAC
87
Final
91
East Stroudsburg ESU-M
14-6, 11-3 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Shippensburg SHIP-M 39 48 87
East Stroudsburg ESU-M 37 54 91

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

ESU Men’s Basketball Holds Off Late Rally, Tops Shippensburg 91-87

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EAST STROUDSBURG – A jumper by Jake Biss completed a 17-0 run for Shippensburg which put the visitors ahead of East Stroudsburg University 83-82 with 2:06 remaining in regulation.

The lead lasted only seven seconds.

Redshirt senior Josh Williams converted a fast break layup, and he stole the ensuing inbounds pass to set up two more points at the free throw line, as the Warriors held off the late Raider surge to earn a 91-87 victory at Koehler Fieldhouse on Wednesday.

Williams posted 22 points and 14 rebounds for his 10th double-double in 19 appearances, while freshman Ryan Smith tallied a season-high 28 points to go along with eight rebounds in the win. ESU (14-6, 11-3) moves past Shippensburg (17-6, 11-4) for second place in the PSAC East standings.

After trailing 39-37 at the end of a tightly contested first half, the Warriors raced out of the intermission with a 19-7 run over the opening 4:08 to grab a double-digit advantage.

The margin grew to 80-59 with just under nine minutes to play. Shippensburg then scored 24 of the game's next 26 points to grab its short-lived lead.

Williams' layup put ESU back up for good, and Smith hit two shots from the line after Williams' steal to make it a three-point game. A pair of free throws from redshirt senior Jakwan Jones completed a key 6-0 run for the home side on the ensuing possession.

Smith hit 9 of 12 shots from both the field and the free throw line to record his new collegiate scoring high. His previous top output was a 22-point effort against West Chester on Jan. 23. Smith has now surpassed 20 points four times this season, and he has reached double figures in 13-consecutive contests.

Williams becomes only the third Warrior player to register 10 double-doubles in a season over the past 16 years, joining Channon Easley (11, 2006-07) and LaMont Jones (10, 2002-03). He hit 10 of 17 field goal attempts, and also added four steals and a pair of blocks.

Jones was the third ESU player in double figures with 10 points, five rebounds and five assists.

The Warriors earned a season split with the Raiders after falling 76-70 during the first meeting at Shippensburg on Jan. 5. The game was a rematch of last year's Division II Atlantic Region Championship, which ESU won 84-72 to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history. It also matched up the last two PSAC champions (ESU in 2018, Shippensburg in 2017).

Antonio Kellem had a team-high 25 points for the visitors, while Biss chipped in 23 points and four assists.

The Warriors wrap up a three-game homestand on Saturday, when they host Mansfield in a PSAC East contest at 3 p.m.

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