Men's Basketball Loses to Millersville

BLOOMSBURG—The Bloomsburg University men's basketball team fell to Millersville University, 84-69, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division showdown Saturday afternoon.

Millersville's Greg Testa struck early and often in the first half scoring 12 points in the opening period of play. Testa converted on a three-point play opportunity as he was fouled on a fast break lay-up, putting the Marauders on top, 14-6, with 14:10 left in the first half.

Billy Bryan (Denver/Holy Name) led the Huskies by cutting into the Millersville lead, knocking down a three-pointer making the score 18-12 with 10:53 to play in the first half. Bloomsburg would continue its comeback as a Buddy Rose (Philadelphia/Mastbaum) lay-up cut the deficit to 18-16 with 9:09 to play in the opening half.

After a fast break lay-up by Millersville's Brian Jones, Ryan Nenstiel (Nuremburg/Weatherly) would come through, nailing a three-pointer to bring the Huskies within one point, 20-19, with 5:40 remaining in the half. Millersville would go on to score 11 unanswered points, pulling away with a 31-19 lead after a Charles Parker lay-up with 1:21 left in the half. Testa gave Millersville some extra momentum heading into the locker room hitting a three-pointer with six seconds left in the half, giving the Marauders a 34-24 halftime lead.

The Huskies kept the game in reach in the second half as Ernest Cherry (Babonneau, St. Lucia/St. Mary's) hit a pair of free-throws with 14:23 to play, bringing the Huskies with in eight, trailing 45-37. Millersville's Kevin Cuff would hit four, three-pointers in the next four minutes of play opening up a, 61-41, Millersville lead with 10:38 left to play.

The Huskies cut the deficit to 15 on a Mike Cheatle (Lower Gwynedd/Hatboro-Horsham) three-pointer with 2:45 to play to make the score 76-61. However, the Marauders were tough down the stretch and came out on top, 84-69.

Bryan led Bloomsburg with a team-high 18 points and five boards. John Owens (Philadelphia/Abington Friends) chipped in with 12 points and four assists, while Rose finished with 11.

All five Millersville starters scored in double-figures with Testa leading the way with 20. Parker added 16, while Brian Jones scored 16 and pulled down a game-high 14 points. Cuff finished with 12.

With the loss, the Huskies fall to 5-16, 1-5 in the PSAC East, and will next be in action Monday, as they travel to play East Stroudsburg at 8 p.m.