Box Score

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - The Shippensburg University men's basketball team overcame an early deficit in the second half, built a nine-point lead in the final frame and held on down the stretch to record its first PSAC Eastern Division victory of the season and snap a four-game losing streak on Wednesday night from Heiges Field House with a 68-61 decision over local rival Millersville.

Shippensburg (8-8, 1-2 PSAC East) shot 59 percent from the field in the contest, its second-best effort this season, and had seven of its players score at least six points in the game. The Red Raiders led by three points to play but connected for 6-of-8 free throws down the stretch while the visiting Marauders missed their final 10 field-goal attempts of the game.

Sophomore guard Craig Van Scyoc, making just his second career start and first this season, tied for the team lead with 13 points playing in a career-high 36 minutes, including the entire second half. Redshirt sophomore forward Will Royal had another strong effort off the bench, shooting 6-of-7 from the field for 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds in 28 minutes.

Millersville (6-10, 1-2 PSAC East) battled the Red Raiders and erased a nine-point deficit in the first half to tie the score at intermission, 31-31. Seniors Jason Blake (17 points, 11 rebounds) and Alen Ahmetovic (11 points, 11 rebounds) posted double-doubles for the Marauders but overall the visitors shot just 31 percent from the field and totaled five assists for the game, the same total compiled Wednesday night by SU senior guard Brian Oleksiak.

Oleksiak finished with seven points, four rebounds, a block and a steal in his 31 minutes of action while redshirt sophomore guard Dane Lauber added seven points, three rebounds and one assist. Redshirt freshman forward Will Kirkland also produced in his 11 minutes off the bench, delivering seven points, three rebounds and two assists.

The two teams entered the contest as the top-ranked three-point defense in the PSAC, with Shippensburg at 27.6 percent against and Millersville at 28.8 percent. Naturally, the two teams shot the lights out from distance on Wednesday, with Shippensburg hitting 6-of-9 three-point attempts (including three from Van Scyoc and two from redshirt freshman guard Lamar Jackson while the Marauders were 7-of-15 from behind the line.

Shippensburg returns to action on Saturday afternoon against No. 2 Kutztown, who lost its first game of the season tonight at Mansfield, 94-87. Game time is set for 3 p.m. and radio coverage will be available on 88.7 FM in Shippensburg and online here.