EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The East Stroudsburg University men's basketball team surged past Elizabeth City State University, 94-71, on Saturday evening in game two of the PSAC/CIAA Conference Challenge. The Warriors were powered by a 29-point performance from Lakeem McAliley inside Koehler Fieldhouse.
The Warriors opened the 2024-25 season with a win, while the Vikings fell in their season opener.
Notables:
- Lakeem McAliley led all scorers with 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the field, while also grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out two assists.
- Jalen Pichardo joined McAliley in double figures, recording 13 points and four rebounds. He made all five of his field goal attempts and went 2-of-3 from the free-throw line.
- Nasir Griffin nearly posted a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.
- Cam Young scored nine points, while Carson Howard added eight points and six rebounds. Davon Lee contributed eight points and two assists.
- The Warriors dominated the boards, out-rebounding ECSU 48-31 and scoring 26 second-chance points.
- ESU's bench contributed 35 points.
- ECSU was led by Reggie Raynor, who tallied 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Jaquantae Harris chipped in 13 points.
- Despite shooting just 4-of-22 from beyond the arc, ESU built a sizable lead by converting 24 points off turnovers and scoring 19 fast-break points.
How It Happened:
- From the tip, ESU controlled the game, building a 24-8 lead midway through the first half. The Warriors' advantage grew to as many as 25 points at 48-23 with 2:06 left in the half. ECSU closed the first half with six straight points, cutting the deficit to 48-29 at halftime.
- In the second half, ESU maintained its efficient play, opening with a 10-2 run in the first five minutes. The Warriors extended their lead to a game-high 34 points with 10:07 remaining. ECSU mounted a late rally to cut the deficit to 21 points with 3:39 left, but the Warriors held firm, securing a 94-71 victory.
Up Next:
- The Warriors return to Koehler Fieldhouse to host Lincoln University on Sunday. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the final matchup of the PSAC/CIAA Conference Challenge. Both teams were predicted as preseason favorites in their respective conferences.
