EAST STROUDSBURG – After 15 days off between contests, the East Stroudsburg University men's basketball team picked up where it left off with another 100-point performance in a 106-84 win over Bridgeport in the home opener on Sunday afternoon at Koehler Fieldhouse.
The Warriors (3-0) remain perfect through three contests, while the Purple Knight (3-2) suffer their second consecutive loss after a 3-0 start.
Notables
- Five Warriors reached double-figures in the outing, with Carlos Pepin (17 pts., nine rebounds, three assists, 1 block), Lakeem McAliley (16 pts., eight rebounds, two assists, 1 block), Davon Lee (14 pts., 3-3 3PT, 3 assists, four steals), Justin Paz (13 pts., two assists, two steals) and Shamir Johnson (12 pts., 3 assists, 1 steal) leading the charge.
- Mike Ramos added nine points, while Jaelen McGlone and David Duda Jr. each posted six points. Mike Millsip posted four points five rebounds.
- ESU shot efficiently from the field (30-68 FG, 58.8%), 3-point land (8-20 3PT FG, 40.0%) and the free-throw line (18-23 FT), and held the Purple Knights to shoot 44.2 percent from the floor and just 6-of-28 3-point range. UB shot 10-of-19 from the stripe.
- In the balanced performance, four Warriors posted three assists, with 10 Warriors totaling a helper. 14 of 15 Warriors that played registered at least one point.
- ESU led UB in rebounds (48-38), defensive rebounds (30-18), assists (20-18), turnovers (17-20), bench points (45-36), blocks (2-1), fast-break points (31-13), steals (12-8), points off turnovers (29-25), points in the paint (58-38).
- Bridgeport held advantages in offensive rebounds (40-38) and second-chance in points (18-14).
- ESU was originally scheduled to play D'Youville on Sunday, Nov. 20, but a snow storm in Buffalo, N.Y. prevented the Saints from traveling to the Poconos. D'Youville is next up on Warriors schedule, with the Saints now visiting Koehler Fieldhouse on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
- ESU scored 100 points for the second consecutive contest after putting up 110 points against Bowie State on Nov. 12.
- Sunday's matchup marks just the second meeting between the schools and the first in the Poconos, with ESU earning an 82-62 point win over the Purple Knights during the 1970-71 season.
How It Happened
- ESU led from the tip and never trailed, building a 22-9 lead. Pepin and McAliley combined for 12 points during the first five-and-a-half minutes. ESU found its stroke early on, making 8-of-11 from the field to begin the contest and made 2-of-2 from long distance.
- UB got back into the game with a pair of free throws, a 3-pointer and a jumper. A 7-0 run ensued, cutting the deficit to seven.
- The Warriors extended its lead back to double digits at 27-16, before a mini 5-0 run from Bridgeport made it a seven-point contest once again. The two teams continued to trade buckets at point, with ESU taking a 34-20 lead with 8:42 to go in the first half. The Warriors outscored the Purple Knights 23-17 to close the first half, as ESU led 55-37 after 20 minutes.
- Bridgeport entered the second half strong, with a 10-4 run to begin the second frame. A Paz free throw and a Lee triple would end the spree.
- Shamir Johnson played in his first game on his home court for the first time since March 4, 2020, a span of 998 days after missing the 2021-22 season due to injury and the COVID-19 canceled 2020-21 season.
- ESU held UB at a distance through the second half, leading by double-digits throughout the final 20 minutes, cruising to the 106-84 final.
Up Next
- ESU continues its season-long five-game home stretch on Tuesday with the makeup game against D'Youville. The Warriors (3-0) and Saints (1-4) will tipoff at 7:00 p.m. with live coverage on the PSAC Sports Digital Network and Bigfoot Country Poconos 103.1 FM.
