Box Score
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - The Shippensburg men's basketball team faced its second consecutive undefeated opponent but could not clamp down defensively against a high-speed, transition offense, dropping a 72-66 decision to Mercyhurst in a sloppy game on Saturday afternoon in a PSAC crossover at Heiges Field House.
Shippensburg (7-3) opened the scoring with a three-pointer from graduate forward
Ryan Kraft but trailed by 10 points at halftime, 38-28. Despite the deficit, the Raiders committed just two turnovers over the first 13 minutes of the half and just six turnovers through 20 minutes of play.
The Raiders fell behind by as many as 18 points in the second half and trimmed their deficit to nine points at the 3:36 mark but only got as close as six after a three-pointer in the final seconds by junior guard
Stephon Draper.
Mercyhurst (10-0), off to its best start since the 1977-78 season, came out with guns blazing on Saturday - making seven consecutive field goals attempts after two early misses and starting 8-of-12 to take an 18-9 lead at the 13:09 mark.
Brian McTear had a sensational game for Mercyhurst, spinning through the lane for 12 first-half points on 5-of-9 shooting. He also recorded three assists, two rebounds and one steal while not committing a turnover through the opening 20 minutes.
Shippensburg struggled in the game from the free-throw line, shooting just 55 percent despite reaching the charity stripe 36 times. By contrast, Mercyhurst was 15-of-18 from the free-throw line, converting 83 percent of its attempts.
Draper led Shippensburg with 15 points, while red-shirt junior center
Derrick Graff totaled 10 points and eight rebounds. Junior forward
Daziah Miller scored 12 points off the bench in the opening half but was held scoreless over the final 20 minutes.
McTear led all scorers with 23 points, while Nnamdi Nnadili finished with 15 points. Jeremiah Wise (11 points) and Jordan Armstrong (10 points) rounded out the four Lakers in double figures.
Shippensburg returns to action tomorrow in another PSAC Crossover against Slippery Rock from Heiges Field House at 3 p.m. The Rock (8-2) lost on Saturday to Cheyney, 76-59.
