The East Stroudsburg University men’s basketball team lost its top three scorers from lastseason’s roster. The Warriors’ top two point guards this season have suffered injuries likely tosideline them into January.
None of it has kept ESU from playing its style — or winning.
The Warriors have pressed and run their way to a 5-0 start heading into Tuesday’s finalnonleague game at Molloy. The depth they developed last season coupled with immediatecontributions from newcomers like freshman forward Adrian Brito, a Pocono Mountain West graduate, have allowed them to flourish.
Brito (12.8 points per game, second on the team) is one of seven players who began Tuesday averaging between 10 and 13 points per game. The Warriors don’t have a clear No. 1 scorer like last season’s PSAC East athlete of the year, Lakeem McAliley, but their depth has allowed them to average 96.8 points per game, second to Gannon (98.2 ppg) in the PSAC.
“All things being said, with the injuries that we’ve had, kind of moving guys in, plug-and-play for lack of better terminology, I’m pretty pleased with where we’ve started the season,” ESU coach Jeff Wilson said by phone Monday. “And I see a lot of growth with this team as the year goes on.
“No. 1, getting some bodies back eventually. And also, we are playing a lot of youth in the lineup. So, those guys are getting a lot of experience right now, which has been a positive thing that you’re able to win some games and still get guys acclimated to the program.”
ESU knew it had minutes to fill and points to replace with McAliley, Evan Morton and Cam Young leaving via graduation or transfer after last season. Those three combined for 43.6 points and 5.4 steals per game as the Warriors went 21-9 overall in 2024-25.
The Warriors still returned several players with significant experience thanks to an up-tempo style where they regularly play 10-11 players. But injuries to starting point guard Davon Lee and starting center Kevin Coleman have forced Wilson to go deeper into his roster to continue pushing the pace.
A second unit led by Brito, Keni Williams and Ethan Millirons has met the moment. All three are averaging at least 12.2 points per game while shooting over 50% from the field.
Brito has also been a top playmaker despite being a forward rather than a primary ballhandler. He ranks second to fellow freshman Williams (22 assists) with 17 assists.
“I feel like we’re very well connected,” Brito said. “We’re a very young team with the second group. The second group is looking to the first group and matching their energy. I just think we’re really exciting to watch, and we’re having fun playing basketball together.”
The Warriors will need to navigate the start of conference play without at least three injuredmembers of their rotation. Even when players like Lee and Coleman are ready to return, Wilson will have to reintegrate them into the lineup.
No matter which players ESU has available game by game, it doesn’t intend to change its style. Wilson and Brito are hoping the early-season reps players receive now pay off in March’s meaningful moments.
“We’re just going to have to throw guys into different roles, and hopefully collectively we can become the team that we need to be,” Wilson said.
Leopards looking up: The Lafayette women ripped off four straight wins before ending November with a 71-60 loss Sunday at NJIT.
The Leopards’ winning streak included a 76-59 victory Nov. 25 at Pittsburgh. It was their first win against an ACC opponent since 2013, when they also beat Pitt.
Sophomore guard Talia Zurinskas, a Parkland graduate, has seized a larger role in her second season with Lafayette (4-4 overall). She is averaging 12.1 points and three assists per game while playing a team-high 33.8 minutes per game. She averaged 15.6 minutes per game as a freshman.
Tip-ins: DeSales sophomore Jayden Thomas (Parkland) is shooting 84.7% from the free-throw line while averaging 9.83 attempts per game. He leads the Bulldogs in scoring at 20.5 points per game. … The Lafayette men snapped a five-game losing streak with a Saturday win over Ball State in the second annual Lafayette Classic. The Leopards limited the Cardinals to 37 points, tying a Kirby Sports Center record for their fewest points allowed.
Stephen Miller is a freelance writer.
