Box Score

ERIE, Pa. - The Shippensburg University men's basketball team had three players finish the game in double figures on Sunday afternoon in the second day of the Mercyhurst College Invitational but the Red Raiders could not overcome a 10-point halftime deficit and dropped a 74-58 decision to Virginia Union University.

Shippensburg (6-3) fell behind by seven points in the first five minutes of the game and could not get within six points for the remainder of the contest. The Panthers had four players score in double figures and posted a plus-8 assist-to-turnover ratio (21 assists, 13 turnovers) while shooting 46 percent from the field.

Senior forward Daziah Miller once again led Shippensburg in scoring, posting his second-straight double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. It is his eighth straight game posting double figures in points and the fifth time this season he has led the team in scoring.

Redshirt freshman forward Wes Kirkland had his second-straight game game with double digits offensively, scoring 10 points to complement two rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal. Fellow redshirt freshman Lamar Jackson added 10 points in 18 minutes.

Senior Brian Oleksiak had eight points, eight rebounds, a season-high six assists, one block and one steal in 35 minutes. Junior point guard Jaren Gembe added seven points and three assists off the bench.

The Red Raiders begin a 20-day break from competition in advance of final exams and the holidays but will travel right back to Mercyhurst for their next game. Shippensburg will face the Lakers at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 2 to start the official PSAC crossover schedule.