EAST STROUDSBURG – Following a dominant win over Elizabeth City State, the East Stroudsburg University men's basketball team took down CIAA preseason favorite and defending champion Lincoln (Pa.), 88-68, on Sunday evening to complete the PSAC/CIAA Conference Challenge.
The Warriors are now 2-0 on the season, while the Lions fall to 1-1 after a win over Kutztown on Saturday.
ESU's relentless defense forced 36 turnovers, the most in the
Jeff Wilson-era against an NCAA DII opponent and the third most overall. The Warriors posted 21 steals against the Lions, the most since totaling 26 against Cheyney on Nov. 16, 2019. The Warriors showed off their balance offensively with five double-figure scorers.
Notables
- Three-time All-PSAC East selection Lakeem McAliley led the squad with his second-consecutive 20-plus point performance, registering 23 points. He posted two assists, four steals and a block in just 22 minutes on the court.
- Evan Morton added 16 points off the bench, tying for the team-lead with five rebounds and paced the squad with four assists.
- Nasir Griffin and Davon Lee each posted 12 points, combing to shoot 9-12 from the field.
- Cam Young also reached double-digits in points (10) and brought down five rebounds and six steals to fill the stat sheet.
Moving Up the Ranks
- With 52 points across his first two games this season, McAliley moves to sixth all-time in career points with 1,486. Entering the season ranked eighth, he surpasses Russ Hopewell (1958-62, 1,446) and Keith Fisher (1,483). He looks to become the sixth member of the 1,500-point club next weekend, needing just 14 points.
How It Happened
- ESU started strong, with a 10-0 surge early. The Lions got within of point of ESU at 20-19 and 22-21, but the Warriors did not concede the lead. The Warriors took control with a 29-13 sprint, grabbing a 17-point lead at 51-34. ESU entered the locker room with a 15-point lead at 53-38 over the defending CIAA Champion.
- The Lions were able to get within nine points of ESU at 53-32 and 64-55, but the Warriors would not allow LU to get closer, closing the game with a 20-point win at 88-68.
Up Next
- The Warriors prepare for the 12th Annual Daniel Sullivan Memorial Tournament next weekend, taking on host Dominican (N.Y.) on Friday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. and Caldwell on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. in Orangeburg, N.Y.
