DIV 2
No. 14/18 Warriors Wrap Up Historic Season with 25-5 Record
EAST STROUDSBURG – Despite a historic season that saw the third-most wins in program history, the No. 14/18 East Stroudsburg University men's basketball team did not hear its name called during the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday evening, as the 2023-24 campaign comes to a close.
ESU's 25-5 record is surpassed only by the 2017-18 team NCAA DII Elite Eight team (27-6) and the 2013-14 squad that posted a program-record 30-2 record in terms of total wins. The Warriors finished with an 18-4 PSAC record, earning a three-way tie with Lock Haven and Millersville for the PSAC East Regular Season Championship.
The high-octane Warrior offense averaged 90.7 points per game, which ranks second-best in program history to the 2017-18 season (92.0 ppg). The output ranked second in the PSAC and seventh in the country. ESU surpassed 100 points in 10 games on the season – which tied the program record set in 2017-18. The Warriors recorded a postseason-best 116 points at Koehler Fieldhouse in the PSAC First Round matchup against Mansfield.
ESU defense was tenacious, ranking fifth in NCAA DII in turnovers forced (19.7), seventh in steals per game (10.7), ninth in 3-point field goal percentage defense (29.6) and 15th in turnover margin (4.0).
Three-time All-PSAC selection redshirt junior Lakeem McAliley led the Warriors in scoring (17.3 ppg), field goal percentage (.563%) rebounding (5.9), blocks (22) and ranked second in steals (2.2). Among PSAC leaders, the Philadelphia native ranked 11th in scoring, 19th in rebounding, fourth in field goal percentage, 12th in free throw percentage, fourth in steals and 21st in blocks. He accomplished the impressive statistics without ranking in the top 25 in the conference in minutes played.
With a season of eligibility remaining, McAliley ranks among the all-time Warrior greats in program history. He enters his redshirt senior season ranked eighth in points (1434) and has the third most points following his junior season in program history. He ranks seventh in field goals made (543), seventh in field goal percentage (.563), 10th in 3-point field goal percentage (38.8), 10th in free throws made (282), ninth in free-throw percentage (.775), 21st in rebounds (512), tied for eighth in steals (159) and 14th in blocks (75) among Warriors all-time.