Box Score

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - The Shippensburg University men's basketball team battled hard but faced some offensive struggles on Wednesday evening from Heiges Field House, shooting just 26 percent from the floor in dropping a crucial PSAC Eastern Division battle against Bloomsburg, 59-44.

Shippensburg (8-10, 1-4 PSAC East) got 12 points and nine rebounds from sophomore Craig Van Scyoc, who was making his third consecutive start at the 2-guard spot, but no other player finished with more than seven points in the game. The Red Raiders committed just 12 turnovers but could not get the baskets to drop.

Bloomsburg (7-10, 1-4 PSAC East) snapped a six-game losing streak with a strong second-half performance that included 23 rebounds, eight assists and five steals. Ruben Britt (17 points, nine rebounds) and Adon El (16 points, 10 rebounds) each scored in double figures during the final period while the Huskies overall shot 53.3 percent from the field in the second half.

The teams played to a 19-19 tie at the intermission but the Huskies came out of the gates in the second half with momentum. Bloomsburg started on a 6-0 that was eventually erased by Shippensburg but the pressure continued. At the 9:13 mark of the second half, BU unleashed an 11-1 run over four minutes of play that made the score 49-38 in favor of the Huskies.

Junior point guard Jaren Gembe drained three-pointers on consecutive possessions that brought Shippensburg within five points, but Bloomsburg scored the final 10 points of the game over the final 4:07 to seal its second PSAC Eastern Division victory in two years.

Gembe, redshirt senior forward Daziah Miller and redshirt sophomore guard Dane Lauber each finished with seven points. Senior forward Brian Oleksiak added eight rebounds, three assists and two steals while drawing three charges that resulted in offensive fouls for the Huskies.

Shippensburg returns to the floor at 3 p.m. on Saturday against Cheyney from Heiges Field House.