SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - The Shippensburg men's basketball team held home-standing Mansfield 14 points below their season average and recorded eight three-pointers in the second half but could not put away the Mountaineers. Two free throws from Chris Greene in the final three seconds capped a late comeback and guided Mansfield to a 73-72 defeat over the Red Raiders Wednesday night inside Decker Gymnasium.
Shippensburg (5-6) received a splendid effort from red-shirt junior Ryan Kraft, who recorded his first double-double of the season with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Twenty of Kraft's 22 points came in the second half, as he was on fire from behind the three-point line and drained five of his 11 attempts from distance. Kraft also played in the entire contest before fouling out in the final three seconds of the game.
Mansfield (8-1) was limited to 29 points in the first half and the team's leading scorer, Kevin Hill, was absolutely held in check for the duration of the contest. Hill entered the game averaging 19.1 points per game and had drained 37 three-pointers in eight games, but on Wednesday he was held to just five points on 2-of-10 shooting.
The Red Raiders received a spirited effort from freshman Jaren Gembe, who spelled senior guard Alex Jones when he was not running the point. Gembe had only played 19 minutes for the entire season in just 10 games, but in 21 minutes Wednesday he totaled eight points, three assists and two steals. Jones, meanwhile, totaled 16 points and four assists that included four three-pointers.
Shippensburg held a one-point lead with eight seconds remaining after Kraft converted a fast-break layup off an assist from Jones. On the ensuing possession, a foul was whistled 20 feet away from the basket that put Greene on the line to convert both ends of a one-and-one to give Mansfield the lead once again.
The Red Raiders will now take a break for Christmas and New Year's and will return to action on Wednesday, January 2 when the team takes on the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. Game time from Sports Center is set for 7:30 p.m.
- Red Raider Basketball -
