Box Score

MANSFIELD, Pa. - The Shippensburg men's basketball team fell victim to a hot-shooting opponent in the second half on Wednesday evening from Decker Gymnasium as the Raiders opened their PSAC Eastern Division schedule with a 76-63 loss to Mansfield.

Shippensburg (8-6, 0-1 PSAC East), competing in its first PSAC Eastern Division contest since the 1986-87 season, shot 51.9 percent from the field and out-rebounded the Mountaineers by six but fell behind for good after a 23-10 run from the home team over the first nine minutes of the second half.

Mansfield (8-5, 1-0 PSAC East) was 11-for-25 from three-point range in the game, including 6-of-11 in the second half. The Mountaineers were actually more proficient from three-point range (44 percent) than from two-point range (38 percent), and only one of their first-half field goals was a two-pointer. 

In addition to the distance shooting disparities, Mansfield got to the free-throw line 29 times and converted 23 attempts, a conversion rate of 79.3 percent. The Mountaineers were only whistled for 12 fouls in the game, as Shippensburg was just 6-of-11 from the charity stripe in the contest.

The Raiders led by eight points late in the first half and by three points at halftime while playing stifling defense during the opening 20 minutes. Shippensburg shot 52 percent in the first half whole holding the home team to just 24 percent shooting.

Sophomore guard Justin Minter led Shippensburg with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting along with five assists and two steals, while graduate guard Ryan Kraft and junior forward Daziah Miller each totaled 12 points.  

Mansfield's Yuseff Carr posted 20 points, 16 rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocks in 32 minutes of action, while Chris Pender added 20 points, three assists and two steals. Freshman Troy Fannick totaled 14 points and was 3-of-3 from three-point range.

Shippensburg will return to action on Saturday, January 17 for its home conference opener against East Stroudsburg. The first 2,000 fans in attendance at the doubleheader will receive a free T-shirt, and non-student admission will be just $1. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.