By Ronald Hanaki
Sports Editor
In a non-conference game last Monday night, ESU’s Men’s Basketball team defeated the PSU Wilkes-Barre Nittany Lions 99-66 at Koehler Fieldhouse.
The Warriors were led by senior forward Steve Harris who had 18 points and 17 rebounds. Sophomore guard Kitt Najee Walls also scored a career-high 18 points and just missed a double-double with nine assists.
It was a dominant win for the Warriors. The Nittany Lions clawed their way to an early 6-5 lead in the first quarter, but the Warriors went on an 8-0 scoring run to take the lead in the game for good.
The Warriors just kept working and making baskets until they had a 56-31 lead at halftime.
The third quarter got off to a comical delayed start as PSU Wilkes-Barre took some extra time to get out of the visitors’ locker room. The Warriors were on the basketball court by themselves for a couple of minutes until the Nittany Lions finally came out to play.
Unfortunately for PSU Wilkes-Barre, basketball is not a game of hide-and-seek. The second half was more of the same.
ESU’s press defense continued to confound the Nittany Lions. At times, PSU Wilkes-Barre struggled to get the ball past mid-court, and the game ended in a 99-66 win for the Warriors.
Bench scoring, second chance points and points off turnovers were the differences in this game.
ESU’s bench outscored PSU Wilkes-Barre’s bench by 27 points.
The Warriors had 22 second chance points to only 10 for the Nittany Lions.
ESU also held a 31-22 edge in points off turnovers.
The Warriors (4-3, 2-0) will travel to western Pennsylvania to play Edinboro on Saturday and Mercyhurst on Sunday.
Email Ronald at:
rhanaki@live.esu.edu