Box Score

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - The Shippensburg University men's basketball team held a three-point halftime lead against the No. 4 team in Division II on Saturday afternoon from Heiges Field House but the Red Raiders could not hold off a vigilant group of Crimson Hawks, dropping a 73-62 decision to visiting IUP.

Shippensburg (7-5), fresh off a victory last weekend against previously unbeaten Slippery Rock, hung close with IUP during the first half of play behind some solid offensive production by redshirt freshman Wes Kirkland. He contributed 14 of his 16 points in the opening frame, shooting 6-of-7 from the field, while adding two rebounds and a steal during his 16 minutes on the floor.

IUP (11-0) led by as many as nine points in the game's first nine minutes and held an eight-point advantage just four minutes before intermission, but the Red Raiders closed the half on a 13-2 run that was capped off by a buzzer-beating three-pointer from redshirt freshman Lamar Jackson. SU led at intermission, 30-27.

The momentum began to swing in IUP's favor on the opening possession of the second half, when Thomas Young maneuvered through the Red Raider defense and slammed home a dunk that brought the Crimson Hawks within one point of the lead. Indiana opened the final period with a 17-3 run over the first seven minutes and SU could not recover from the deficit.

The Red Raiders shot 42 percent from the field but were just 2-of-10 from behind the three-point stripe and committed 21 turnovers in the contest. IUP scored 21 points off turnovers and had 19 second-chance points en route to the win.

Redshirt sophomore forward Will Royal added 12 points and four rebounds off the bench but committed five turnovers. Jackson had eight points, three rebounds and three steals while senior Brian Oleksiak had seven points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Also adding strong first-half minutes was redshirt sophomore Dane Lauber, who assisted on Kirkland's first three buckets and finished with two points and four rebounds.

Junior phenom Darryl Webb led four Crimson Hawks in double figures with 19 points and 13 rebounds. The conference's leading rebounder also blocked three shots and delivered two assists while shooting 7-of-10 from the field. IUP also received strong games from Young (17 points), Julian Sanders (12 points) and Ashton Smith (10 points).

Shippensburg will face California (Pa.) at 3 p.m. tomorrow in another PSAC crossover from Heiges Field House. The Vulcans traveled and beat Cheyney on Saturday, 80-68.