Box Score

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Forward Tony Ellis led all players Wednesday night with 26 points – the most by a Raider freshman in eight years – but the Shippensburg University men's basketball team could not overcome a strong finish by Shepherd in a 90-77 loss to the Rams inside the Butcher Athletic Center.

Shippensburg (2-4) was within three points of the lead, 68-65, with 8:20 to play, but the Rams put together a 17-3 run over the next six-and-a-half minutes to take control of the game. All five of Shepherd's starters finished in double figures and combined to score 79 of the Rams' 90 points.

Ellis had 26 points and six rebounds, shooting 11-of-13 from the field and 4-of-4 at the free-throw line. His scoring effort is the most by a Raider rookie in a game since PSAC West Rookie of the Year Ryan Kraft put up 27 points in a 79-68 victory at Mansfield on Dec. 22, 2004.

Shepherd (5-1) put two men on the ball and employed steady pressure on the Raiders for most of the first half. When Shippensburg was able to beat the press and attack, it converted several high-percentage layups. The biggest beneficiary was Ellis, who was 8-of-9 from the floor at the intermission with 18 points.

However, the pressure also led to 13 first-half turnovers and resulted in several transition buckets for the Rams. The Raiders trailed for the majority of the first half until an Ellis jumper at the 4:57 mark put Shippensburg up 27-26. Shepherd drained three 3-pointers in the final 3:45 of the half to gain a 41-37 lead at the break.

Freshman Joe Lococo tallied 11 points, four assists, two blocks and two steals, while junior forward Dylan Edgar contributed eight points and eight rebounds. Sophomore Reggie Charles scored 11 points and had three assists.

Sophomore Akil Anderson added 12 points off the bench on 5-of-8 shooting while redshirt-freshman Tyhiem Perrin was solid as well with four points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Shippensburg returns to action at 3 p.m. Saturday when it faces Kutztown inside Heiges Field House.