EAST STROUDSBURG –Trailing 73-70 with 3:49 left in the second half, the East Stroudsburg University men's basketball team closed the game on an 11-2 run to take out Shepherd, 81-75, inside an electric atmosphere at Koehler Fieldhouse for the PSAC First Round matchup.
The Warriors (22-7, 15-7) advance to the PSAC Quarterfinal round and will travel to West Chester on Wednesday night. The Rams (14-15, 11-11) close its 2022-23 season with a loss.
Lakeem McAliley registered a game-high 26 points, knocking down 10-of-18 from the field and 4-of-8 from long distance. He tied for the team lead with seven rebounds.
Notables
- Jaelen McGlone recorded 17 points, sinking 7-of-12 from the floor. He picked up two steals.
- Carlos Pepin totaled 16 points, sinking 8-of-9 free throws. He also collected two blocks and a steal.
- Justin Paz and Mike Millsip both contributed nine points.
- Paz and Davon Lee distributed four assists each.
- ESU led in assists, bench points, blocks, fastbreak points, steals, points off turnovers, second-chance points and totaled 10 less turnovers than its counterpart. SU led off the glass, by a 36-31 margin.
- Carson Poffenberger led the way with 19 points, while Philip Jordan and Daniel McClain-Corley each tallied 18 points.
- ESU improves to 15-3 in home PSAC Tournament games inside Koehler Fieldhouse.
How it Happened
- With the scored tied at 9-9, Shepherd took control for the time being with a 11-2 run to grab a nine-point lead at 20-11. ESU was able to get within four points after a five-point swing by McGlone. The Cheltenham native picked up a steal and a dunk, as Pepin stole the next possession and found McGlone for a 3-pointer. ESU was able to get within three points at 35-32 following a 3-pointer from McAliley. Shepherd would countered with a triple of its own with 22 seconds left, as Shepherd led 38-32 heading into the Koehler Fieldhouse locker room.
- Both teams traded points throughout the second half, with ESU looking to retake the lead. The Rams held off the Warriors to begin the second half, but ESU was able to tie the contest at 49-49, 51-51, 54-54 and 60-60. ESU took its first lead at 62-60 since it was 2-0, as the two teams that split its regular season meetings could not gain separation.
- ESU took a four-point lead at 70-66 following a pair of Pepin free throws, but Shepherd responded with seven consecutive points to grab a 3-point advantage at 73-70. Pepin and McGlone sunk four free throws to take a 74-73 advantage, but SU made a layup to retake the lead.
- The Rams led by one with 2:06 to go and could not add to its score the rest of the way, as Just Paz converted a pair of free throws with 19 seconds left, and McGlone used a thunderous slam dunk to put an exclamation point on the win with five seconds remaining, as ESU advances to the PSAC Semifinals with an 81-75 win.
Up Next
- The Warriors advance to PSAC Quarterfinal round and will face PSAC East No. 2 seed West Chester on Wednesday.
- Tipoff at Hollinger Fieldhouse is set for 7:30 p.m.
