MARAUDERS KNOCK OFF #22 EDINBORO IN FIRST ROUND OF NCAA TOURNAMENT

March 15 – The Millersville University men’s basketball team avenged their Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) semifinal loss to Edinboro with a 64-61 thrilling victory over the Fighting Scots in the first round of the Division II NCAA Tournament on the campus of California (Pa.) University.

Edinboro eliminated Millersville from the PSAC Tournament just eight days ago, but the Marauders were able to hold on to a late lead with clutch free-throw shooting by guard Reggie Bates (jr. Chicago, Ill./Hubbard).  Bates finished 11-of-16 from the line, including 4-of-6 down the stretch, to finish with a game-high 22 points.

The two teams battled throughout the hard-fought contest and were tied 42-42 with just over 11 minutes to play (11:16). 

After losing starting point-guard Cory Bray (fr. Red Lion/Red Lion) to fouls just over seven minutes into the second half, Millersville ignited a 12-2 run when forward Bernard Brown (jr. Harrisburg/Harrisburg) connected on a layup to give the Marauders a three-point lead (48-45) with 7:40 to play.  Brown finished with his eighth double-double of the season and fourth in as many games as he dropped in 11 points to go with 12 rebounds.

A steal by Bates led to a fastbreak layup by guard Charlie Parker (sr. Fawn Grove, Pa./Kennard-Dale) that extended the lead to five.  Parker chipped in with 11 points for the Marauders.

Bates, Parker and forward Makal Stibbins (so. Philadelphia/John Bartram) each connected on field goals before Bates finished the run with a pair of free throws that put the Marauders up by 11, their largest lead of the game, with 5:01 remaining.

Edinboro clawed their way back in, however, with three-point field goals connecting on 5-of-11 attempts in the second half. The Fighting Scots had a chance to tie the game on their final possession but guard Larry Bryant’s three-point attempt with three seconds to play came up short.

Despite the impressive three-point shooting by Edinboro (7-of-18 from behind the arc), Millersville was able to force the Scots into 16 turnovers that resulted in 18 points for the Marauders.

Edinboro held the lead briefly in the first half when guard Joseph Jones hit a three-pointer to give the Scots an early 5-2 lead.  Millersville responded with a jumper by Bates, followed by an emphatic dunk by Parker that brought the Marauder fans to their feet and gave the Marauders the lead again.

The Scots kept the game close and grabbed the lead back from the Marauders on a layup by forward Gilmore Cummings midway through the half.  The Marauders quickly erased the lead when Parker converted a three point play to put the visiting team back on top for good.

The Scots were without their leading shot-blocker and rebounder, forward Ryan McLemore, for most of the first half as he picked up his second foul just over eight minutes into the game.

Forward RayQuan Miles (sr. Hampton, VA/Phoebus) was the fourth Marauder in double-figures finishing with a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds).

Millersville will play the winner of the Mount Olive/Pitt-Johnstown contest taking place at 2:30 p.m. this afternoon.  The second-round game will be held at Hamer Hall on the campus of California (Pa.) University tomorrow evening beginning at 5 p.m.