EAST STROUDSBURG – Following its second loss of the season to Lock Haven, the No. 11/8 East Stroudsburg University men's basketball team bounced back, dominating Shippensburg in a 118-63 victory over the Raiders on Saturday afternoon at Koehler Fieldhouse
The Warriors (14-2, 8-2 PSAC) get back to its winning ways and have now won nine of its past 10 contests and remain tied at the top of the PSAC East. The Raiders (5-11, 2-9 PSAC) fall for the sixth consecutive contest.
Notables
- ESU's six double-figure scorers were led by Lakeem McAliley, who starred in the first half, recording 18 of his 22 total points in 15 minutes on the court. He finished with 22 points in just 18 minutes while grabbing six rebounds.
- Shamir Johnson set a new career-high mark with 21 points, knocking down eight of 12 field goals attempts, including a 5-8 mark from long range in just 19 minutes of action. Johnson's previous career-high of 20 points came against IUP in the PSAC Championships during the 2019-20 campaign.
- Freshman Carson Howard registered his first career double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, setting new season-highs in both categories. He shot 6-10 from the floor and knocked down 6-7 from the stripe.
- Tyshawn Trail (14 pts.), Jaelen McGlone (13 pts., 3 reb., 1 stl.), and Cam Young (11 pts., 3 reb., 2 ast., three blk.) round out the double-digit scorers.
- In just 10 minutes on the court, Jaheim Bethea tallied a game-high seven assists and grabbed eight rebounds. Justin Paz recorded six helpers and a pair of steals. Zion Darby added six rebounds, while Jalen Pichardo totaled five boards.
- A total of 11 Warriors contributed points, 10 totaled at least three rebounds, while eight added at least one assist.
- It was an efficient shooting afternoon for the Warriors, who shot above 55 percent from the floor (44-80 FG) 50 percent from 3-point land (10-20 3PT) and converted 80 percent of its opportunities from the free-throw line (20-25 FT).
- ESU's bench outscored Shippensburg's entire team, 69-63.
- ESU cleaned the glass with a season-high 54 rebounds, matching the 2022-23 season high against D'Youville. The Warriors have not recorded more than 54 rebounds since tallying 55 against Felician on Nov. 11, 2018.
- ESU's +23 margin off the glass ties a Jeff Wilson-era for PSAC rebound margin, last done against SU during the 2015-16 campaign. ESU also posted a +23 rebound margin against Mansfield in 2012-13.
- ESU's 55-point victory against SU is the largest margin of victory for the Warriors against the Raiders in program history. The Warriors' previous-highest margin of victory against SU came the last time ESU put up 118 points against Shippensburg in a 118-75 win on Feb.12, 1964. The Warriors also recorded a 43-point margin of victory against the Raiders on Jan. 16, 2013.
- The win helps ESU keep pace with Lock Haven and Millersville, who have identical 8-2 league records for first place in the PSAC East standings.
- The Warriors now lead the all-time series by a 61-60 mark after winning three consecutive matchups against SU.
How It Happened
- The contest was competitive from the start, with the Raiders taking a 9-8 lead with 17:48 remaining. A 6-0 spurt lifted the Warriors to a 14-9 edge, as the ESU run ultimately turned into a 15-4 scoring run with ESU taking a double-digit lead at 23-13.
- SU cut the deficit to nine at 27-18 and 29-20, but the Warriors continued to pressure defensively and knock down shots, as another run of 12-2 lifted ESU to a 19-point advantage at 41-22. With six minutes left, the Warriors outscored the Raiders, 15-9 to take a 22-point lead at 56-34.
- The Warriors continued its dominance over the final 20 minutes. ESU held at least a 24-point cushion, taking a game-high 58-point lead at 116-58 and 116-60. A Shippensburg 3-pointer with 34 seconds left wrapped up the scoring, as ESU defeated Shippensburg, 118-63.
Up Next
- The Warriors head to Bloomsburg on Wednesday, as ESU looks to set a new program record for consecutive road wins with 11. Game time at Nelson Fieldhouse is slated for 7:30 p.m. ESU returns to Koehler Fieldhouse on Sat., Jan. 27 for a matchup against Millersville at 3:00 p.m.
