EAST STROUDSBURG – Tied at 13-13 in the first half, the East Stroudsburg University men's basketball team erupted on a 22-3 run to build a 19-point lead and cruised to a 113-93 win over Holy Family on Sunday afternoon at Koehler Fieldhouse.
The Warriors (6-1, 1-1 PSAC) bounced back after suffering its first loss of the season last week to Gannon. The Tigers (3-6, 1-1 CACC) drop to 3-6 after a conference win against Georgian Court last Saturday.
ESU produced six double-figure scorers for the first time since Feb. 6, 2023 against Bloomsburg.
Notables
- Nasir Griffin led the Warriors with 20 points, knocking down 6-8 attempts from the floor and went to 7-10 free throws from the stripe. He grabbed five rebounds and tallied a block.
- Tyshawn Trail posted 19 points (5-7 FG) and made all seven attempts from the line. He tallied three steals. Justin Paz registered 17 points, three rebounds and a steal.
- Lakeem McAliley scored 16 points and led ESU with six rebounds. He added two assists and two steals. He is now just four points away from becoming the 34th member of ESU's 1000-point club and looks to become just the fifth junior to accomplish the feat.
- Jaelen McGlone (12 pts., 3 steals) and Cam Young (11 pts., 5 steals) also reached double figures in scoring and combined for eight steals.
- The Warriors led in field goal efficiency (53.8% to 47.5%), rebounds (36-30), steals (17-9) and totaled five less turnovers (24-19).
- ESU totaled season-bests in points (113), field goals made (35), 3-pointers made (13), free throws made (30), free throw attempts (38), assists (22) and steals (17).
- The Warriors' 113 points are the most since putting up 116 points in a 116-97 victory over Mansfield on Feb., 23, 2022.
- ESU's 30 free throws made are the most since making 36 free throws on 48 attempts against West Chester on Feb. 23, 2019.
How It Happened
- The contest went back-and-forth to start. After ESU built a 6-0 advantage, HFU countered with a 5-0 run. As the two teams traded points, Holy Family took its biggest lead of two points at 10-8 with 15:53 remaining in the first half.
- With the score tied at 13-13, the Warriors took control with a 22-3 sprint, as the Warriors forced seven HFU turnovers and made 4-of-6 3-point attempts during the 4:55 of clock stretch.
- Holding a 35-16 edge with 7:45 in the first half, ESU outscored HFU, 22-20, to close the first half with a 57-36 advantage.
- The Warriors kept momentum by scoring 11 consecutive points to start the second half increasing the Warrior lead to a game-high 32 points at 68-36.
- With the game in hand, ESU held at least a 16-point lead the rest of the way, cruising to a 113-93 victory.
Up Next
- ESU is idle until Dec. 19-20, when the Warriors jump back into PSAC crossover play. ESU heads to Clarion on Dec. 19 at 3:00 p.m. and battles Pitt-Johnstown on Dec. 19 at 3:00 p.m. in its final games before the holidays.
