Box Score

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The Shippensburg University men's basketball team opened its 2009-10 season on Sunday afternoon from Thomas Fieldhouse with a clutch performance in the game's final four minutes, scoring 11 of the game's final 14 points in a 61-53 victory over PSAC Western Division opponent Lock Haven.

Shippensburg (2-2) had contributions from a number of players in the contest, as six players contributed at least six points. The Red Raiders were also sound from the field, committing just nine turnovers in the contest. It is just the third time in three seasons that SU has committed less than 10 turnovers in a game.

Redshirt sophomore Will Royal, making his Red Raider debut, hit a jumper with 4:14 remaining to give SU a 52-50 victory. The Bald Eagles trailed by one point with 3:32 to play, but the Red Raiders clamped down defensively. SU limited Lock Haven to just one free throw down the stretch and stopped all seven of their field-goal attempts in the final four minutes.

Senior Brian Oleksiak hit a pair of free throws at the 3:19 mark, senior Tariek Belcher sank a layup with 2:14 to play and the Red Raiders cemented the victory with four free throws in the final 17 seconds of play.

Belcher led the Red Raiders with 14 points while adding six rebounds and one steal. Off the bench, Royal added 10 points, four rebounds and two blocks while sophomore guard Dane Lauber earned a start and contributed eight points, five rebounds and one steal in 19 minutes.

Another integral figure down the stretch was sophomore guard Craig Van Scyoc, who played well in the game's final minutes and tallied a team-high seven rebounds to complement nine points and one assist. All 10 players that took the floor in the game for Shippensburg played at least 10 minutes in the contest.

Shippensburg returns to action on Friday and Saturday with competition in the Wolf's Bus Lines Classic from Heiges Field House. The Red Raiders host Penn State-Greater Allegheny at 7 p.m. on Friday and Mercy (N.Y.) at 7 p.m. on Satuday.

On Friday, The Red Raiders will be collecting canned goods and non-perishable food items prior to the game and all fans that bring a food item to donate at the game will receive free admission. The donations will then be given to the King's Kettle Food Pantry of Shippensburg.

On Saturday, Shippensburg will be recognizing Derrick Graff before the game for his contributions to the men's basketball program. Graff has forgone his final season of athletic eligibility in order to fulfill a three-year paid internship with a national defense agency based in Mechanicsburg. At halftime, SU will honor Keith Hill, the second leading scorer in program history, with an All-American trophy.