MILLERSVILLE'S COMEBACK BID FALLS SHORT AT ESU

Feb. 23 – The Millersville University men's basketball team nearly erased a 17-point second-half deficit but fell 73-70 at East Stroudsburg to have a five-game win streak snapped.

Charlie Parker (sr. Fawn Grove, Pa./Kennard-Dale HS) poured in a game-high 27 points and cut the Marauder deficit to one point after making a three-pointer with 11 seconds to play.

But ESU's Andy Heimbach sank two free throws and Parker missed game-tying three at the buzzer.

The Marauders (18-7, 7-3 PSAC East) fell behind 62-45 with 9:24 remaining before unleashing a 12-2 run. Bernard Brown's (jr. Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg HS) layup cut the deficit to five at the 5:48 mark.

MU also benefited from treys by Cory Bray (fr. Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion HS) and Reggie Bates (jr. Chicago, Ill./Hubbard HS), who scored 17 points in the game, during the run.

The Warriors (17-8, 5-5 PSAC East) pushed the lead back to 10 with under four minutes left before threes by Parker and Bates and a Brown layup cut the deficit to two with 24 seconds remaining.

Heimbach then hit four free throws, which sandwiched Parker's clutch three, to seal the win for ESU.

East Stroudsburg went up 8-1 to start the game before MU rallied to tie the score at 12-12 with 14:11 remaining before the half.

Bate's layup at the 12:14 mark gave MU its first lead (16-14). A Parker jumper three minutes later gave MU its second and final lead with 8:57 left in the first half.

That's when ESU took control with a 12-0 run.

The teams combined for 48 fouls and both shot under 52 percent from the free throw line.

This is the third time this season MU has had a five-game win streak snapped.

MU, ranked third in the most recent NCAA East Regional Poll, will next host Cheyney University on Wed., Feb. 27. Cheyney handed MU a 72-42 road defeat on Jan. 30.

It will be a big night for the Marauders as they play their regular-season home finale, host senior night festivities and benefit from the last of three blackouts held at Pucillo Gymnasium this season. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.