EAST STROUDSBURG -- In its final PSAC crossover of the 2021-22 regular season, the East Stroudsburg University men's basketball team was able to hold on to a late lead, handing Gannon a 66-61 loss in a defensive battle on Saturday afternoon at Koehler Fieldhouse.

The Warriors (9-5, 7-3) have now won three consecutive games and have won nine of the past 11 after an 0-3 start to the season. The Golden Knights fall to 8-4, 5-3 in conference action.

Redshirt Junior Carlos Pepin capped an impressive week with his third double-double over the past four games, supplying ESU with 18 points, 11 rebounds, five steals and a block in 30 minutes of action.

A contender for PSAC Athlete of the Week, the Lodi N.J. native averaged 22 points, 13 rebounds, 3.5 steals and a block, all while shooting 48.4 percent from the field on the week against Lock Haven and the Golden Knights.

Notables

• Lakeem McAliley added 10 points in 12 minutes, reaching double-figures for the 10th time this season. He previously did not reach the threshold over the past three games due to foul trouble.
• Marc Rodriguez posted nine points and four rebounds and a team-high five assists, while Troy Jones  contributed seven points.
• Off the glass, Zach Sabol grabbed nine caroms in 12 minutes of action.
• Gannon was led by Lance-Amir Paul's 16 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and four steals. Braden Olsen contributed 11 points, while big-man Ali Ragab posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
• ESU arguably won the game at the stripe, converting 71 percent (22-31) of its attempts, while the Golden Knights countered with just 56.5 percent (13-23) from the free-throw line.  
• For the second consecutive contest, ESU held the opposition to its lowest shooting percentage of the season, with Gannon shooting just 24.14 percent from the field and 4-of-21 from 3-point land. Against Lock Haven, the Bald Eagles could only muster a 30.8 percent mark from the field and a 16.7 percent clip from beyond the arc.   
• With the win, ESU remains a half game ahead of Millersville (13-4, 7-4) for second-place in the PSAC East standings. Gannon drops to sixth-place in the PSAC West.  

How it Happened

• With Gannon leading the Warriors 8-7, ESU would score 11 consecutive points to grab a 10-point lead at 18-8 with just 9:49 remaining in the first half. ESU did not allow a point for 6:46 of clock during the surge.
• ESU ballooned their advantage to a game-high 15-point lead, which in total was a 20-4 run over the course of 10:27. During the 10-minute stretch, the Warriors allowed just one field goal on 12 attempts. Pepin scored eight points himself to lift ESU to the sizable advantage.
• The Golden Knights closed the first half on a 10-4 sprint to head into the locker room down nine at 31-22.
• Following the intermission, ESU scored seven of the first 10 points, with McAliley contributing half of his 10 points in less than two minutes into the half.
• With the Warriors leading by 13 points at 38-27, Gannon would trim the ESU lead to just five points at 47-42 following a 15-6 sprint.  
• The Warriors countered, retaking a double-digit lead at 58-46 with 4:35 to play. Gannon would not give up, as a quick 8-0 run would slice the deficit to just four points at 58-54 with 2:34 remaining.
• Down the stretch, the Golden Knights could not get any closer, as ESU made the most of their free throw opportunities late, swishing 8-of-11 chances over the final 2:11 to earn the 66-61 win.  

Up Next

• ESU has a quick turnaround, hosting West Chester on Monday evening.
• Tipoff at Koehler Fieldhouse is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. against the Golden Rams.