EAST STROUDSBURG – Facing the nation's top-ranked team in the NABC Coaches Poll, the No. 25 East Stroudsburg University men's basketball team kept it close through the midway point of the second half, but No. 1 IUP pulled away late to defeat the Warriors, 67-53, on Saturday afternoon at the Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Complex.
The Warriors (15-5, 9-5 PSAC) will look to get back on track against Mansfield on Wednesday night. The top-ranked Crimson Hawks (20-0, 14-0 PSAC) remain undefeated as the front runner in the PSAC West.
Trailing by 11 points at halftime, ESU sliced the deficit to as low as five points with a 6-0 scoring run to begin the second half, but IUP held a double-digit lead for the final 15 minutes of action.
Notables
- Lakeem McAliley recorded 15 points to lead the Warriors, while Carlos Pepin and Jaelen McGlone each tallied 13 points to lead the Warriors.
- Off the glass, McGlone, Pepin and Mike Millsip each registered six rebounds. Justin Paz recorded four assists, while Pepin tallied four steals.
- With 13 points on the day, Pepin now has 998 career points, sitting just two points away from becoming the 33rd member of the 1,000-point club.
- The loss drops ESU to 9-5 in league play, as the Warriors are now tied for second with Lock Haven, Millersville and possibly West Chester, depending if the Golden Rams defeat Bloomsburg on Saturday.
- ESU was held to its lowest scoring output since the 2019-20 season opener in a 63-49 loss to Virginia State.
- PSAC leading scorer Shawndale Jones recorded 18 points and was matched by teammate Tomiwa Sulaiman in the category. Sulaiman posted a double0doubkle with a game-high 10 rebounds.
- IUP was held to 67 points, tied for its second-lowest mark on the season and lowest against league opponents.
How It Happened
- McAliley single handedly led ESU's offense in the first half, recording the Warriors' first nine points of the contest including a 3-pointer to open the scoring. IUP took its first sizeable lead at 21-9, using a 13-2 run. The Warriors cut the deficit to seven following a Pepin layup and David Duda Jr. 3-pointer at 21-14, but IUP built a 15-point lead at 33-18 following a 9-4 run. Ultimately, the Warriors stayed within reach of the Crimson Hawks, with a halftime score of 33-22. McAliley recorded half of ESU's points with 11 in the first half.
- Out of the locker room, the Warriors cut the threshold to just five points after six consecutive points to open the half at 33-28. The Hawks settled, retaking a double-digit lead for good with an 8-2 sprint.
- IUP's lead fluctuated between 10 and 19 points the rest of the contest, as the Warriors looked to make a comeback. Pepin and McGlone each had 11 second half points.
- The Warriors got within 10 points at 40-30 and 52-42, but IUP remained undefeated with a 67-53 victory.
Up Next
- ESU (15-5, 9-5 PSAC) heads to Mansfield (5-13, 4-10 PSAC) on Wednesday, as the Warriors begin the second half of the PSAC East schedule.
