EDINBORO, Pa. – In a tale of two halves, the East Stroudsburg University men's basketball team built a 16-point early second-half lead before Edinboro stormed back into the contest, but the Warriors ultimately recorded its fifth consecutive victory with a 93-84 triumph over the Fighting Scots at McComb Fieldhouse.
The Warriors (10-1, 5-1 PSAC) close PSAC crossover action and open the 2024 calendar year with its fifth consecutive victory. The Fighting Scots (2-10, 1-5 PSAC) fall in its sixth-straight contest.
After leading the entire first half and extending its lead to a game-high 16 points early in the second half, Edinboro stormed back to take its first lead at 68-67 and stayed with 11:28 remaining. The Warriors retook the lead and didn't relinquish it, closing the game on an 11-3 run to take home its fifth straight win.
Notables
- ESU was led in scoring by Jaelen McGlone, who recorded 19 points (7-10 FG, 2-2 3PT, 3-5 FT), with 17 points coming in the first half. He was a menace on defense with five steals and two blocks in 30 minutes on the court. He also distributed three assists.
- Nasir Griffin registered 17 points (5-9 FG, 3-5 FT) and completed the double-double performance with 10 rebounds and swatted a game-high three Fighting Scots' shots. In the second half alone, Griffin recorded 12 points and five rebounds when ESU needed points. The double-double for the sophomore is his first this season and the second of his career. His first came against D'Youville on Nov. 29, 2022 with 14 points and 11 rebounds against the Saints.
- Despite battling foul trouble, Lakeem McAliley (8-15 FG, 1-1 FT) poured in 17 points, grabbed eight rebounds, along with totaling four steals and a block before fouling out late in the second half.
- Tyshawn Trail rounds out the double-figure scorers with 16 points. Shamir Johnson grabbed five rebounds and added four points while tallying a pair of assists off the bench.
- Edinboro's five starters all reached double digits, with Bernie Blunt pacing the squad with 24 points (6-23 FG, 2-10 3PT, 10-11 FT), while JJ Eubank (6-7 FG, 4-4 3PT, 2-2 FT) totaled 18 points.
- The Warriors held advantages in field goal percentage (50.7% - 39.1%), steals (13-11), blocks (7-3), points off turnovers (27-15), points in the paint (50-30), fastbreak points (13-6), bench points (17-9) and had three less turnovers (16-19).
How it Happened
- The Warriors came out of the gate strong, scoring the first eight points in the opening minutes. ESU kept momentum, scoring 14 of the first 18 points of the contest taking a 14-4 edge. An 11-5 run for the Fighting Scots sliced the deficit to just four at 19-15, but ESU would not relinquish the lead. ESU used an 11-4 run, as a dunk by Jaelen McGlone dislodged the rim during the stretch, and a delay ensued.
- With the Warriors leading 42-33, ESU used a 13-6 sprint to take a 55-39 lead with under a minute in the first half, as Edinboro made two free throws late in the half, with the Warriors leading 55-39.
- After McGlone scored his 18th and 19th points of the game to open the final frame, the Fighting Scots seized momentum. A 27-10 run by 'Boro lifted the Fighting Scots to its first and only lead at 68-67. The Warriors countered with a 10-4 sprint to retake a five-point advantage for ESU, as Terrell Pitts and Griffin posted four points during the run.
- The two squads continued to trade points. Edinboro cut the deficit to just one point at 82-81 with 3:55 left, but the Warriors closed the game strong, outscoring the EU by an 11-3 mark the rest of the way. ESU made all three of its field goal attempts and 5-6 from the free-throw line over the final four minutes. The Warriors defended Edinboro final three field goal attempts successfully and were held 3-6 from the free throw line late. Griffin (5 pts.) and McAliley (4 pts.) combined for nine points in the game-ending run to seal the win.
Up Next
- The Warriors (10-1, 5-1 PSAC) head to Shepherd (5-5, 2-3 PSAC) for its PSAC East opener on Sat., Jan. 6. The opening tip at the Butcher Center is slated for 3:00 p.m.
