The Shippensburg University men’s basketball team fell to East Stroudsburg University Saturday, 69-64 at Heiges Field House. Despite leading 34-32 at the half, SU could not hold on to its lead.
The Raiders won the tip and started driving into ESU’s man-to-man defense. SU’s Reggie Charles’ dump to Will Royal after a pick-and-roll play started the scoring. The Warriors began tallying their points after Whis Grant’s fastbreak.
ESU’s full-court pressure and fast-paced game flustered the Raiders throughout the game. The Warriors’ Blair Ramsey got a steal off SU as it inbounded after an ESU score. Ramsey’s steal ended in a baseline drive and two points. Still scoring from the baseline, ESU passed around the perimeter until Grant fired a baseline 3-pointer, but missed. Gerald Bridges Jr. grabbed the rebound and got the put-back for two.
As the Raiders brought the ball back to their end of the court, Bridges fouled Sam Pygatt who went 1-for-2. After back and forth steals ended in Terrance King getting a slam-dunk, ESU was only down by one. SU’s Dane Lauber went 1-for-2 from the line with 44 seconds left in the first half. The Raiders led 34-30. The Warriors’ Russell Graham III drained a two at the buzzer, sending ESU and SU into the locker room at halftime, 34-32, SU. The Warriors opened the second half scoring with Eric Bryan’s reverse layup in the post. SU’s Will Royal mirrored Bryan’s footwork and took the ball and his defender to the hoop. Still gaining points in the paint, SU’s Dylan Edgar pivoted and fought to get the ball to the basket. He sank the field goal and drew a foul. Edgar made the freethrow.
A lob pass to ESU’s Terrance King whose defender fronted him, made the layup for another two points to the Warriors. SU’s response to the score was a pass from Jordan Stasyszyn to Lauber who made a behind-the-back pass to Royal, but Royal could not finish. Charles grabbed the board and Lauber finished the play. A series of freethrows brought the score to, 64-62, ESU.
With 1:32 to play, Grant threw an ally-oop to Duane Johnson who threw down a dunk, which increased ESU’s lead by another two points. Lauber scored the last two points of the game to make the final score, 69-64, Warriors. The Raiders play at Millersville on Wednesday, Jan. 25.
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