Box Score

EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – Clutch free-throw shooting and an inspired second-half effort on Saturday afternoon propelled the Shippensburg University men's basketball team to its first road victory in PSAC East play this season, defeating East Stroudsburg, 67-63, from Koehler Fieldhouse.

Down as many as nine points in the first half and seven in the second half, the Raiders (9-15, 6-12 PSAC) shot 62 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes and a season-best 84.6 percent (11-of-13) from the free-throw line in the game, including a 4-of-4 performance from senior Will Royal and freshman Sam Pygatt in the final 22 seconds that helped seal the victory.

In the final 2:37 of play, SU outscored East Stroudsburg (15-9, 11-7 PSAC) 11-3, as the victory was the Raiders' first this season by five points or less. It had lost its previous eight games decided by five points or less.

Senior Dane Lauber came off the bench and led all scorers with 18 points – with no shot bigger than a three-pointer with 49 seconds left that gave Shippensburg a two-point lead that it would not surrender. Lauber went 7-of-9 from the floor, including 3-of-4 from long range for his best three-point shooting performance this season.

Royal scored 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting to go along with eight rebounds and a 4-of-4 effort from the charity stripe. Sophomore Dylan Edgar also scored in double-figures, adding 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting while pulling down five rebounds.

Pygatt added seven points off the bench, while senior Craig Van Scyoc added eight rebounds and five points. Senior Jordan Stasyszyn scored four points and contributed a team-high five assists.

The Raiders fell behind early, facing a 15-6 deficit five minutes into the game. SU went on a 10-2 run over the next four minutes, however, to get within one, down 17-16 at the 10:50 mark of the first half.

A jumper from senior John Corrigan with 7:32 left gave Shippensburg its first lead of the game, up 21-20. Lauber added a layup on SU's next possession for a three-point advantage.

Back-to-back three-pointers from East Stroudsburg's Gerald Bridges, Jr. gave the lead back to the Warriors and started an 11-2 run that put ESU up 33-27 with 2:21 left in the half.

Shippensburg would score the final five points of the period, however, as a Van Scyoc three-pointer found the bottom of the net with 13 seconds left and sent the Raiders into the locker room down just one, 33-32.

The Warriors extended their lead to seven, up 41-34, just over three minutes into the second half. Shippensburg would battle back, however, multiple times chipping the lead back down to one toward the midway point of the half.

After an Edgar three-point play tied the game at 52-52, the Raiders took their first lead of the second half when Edgar grabbed an offensive rebound and laid in a basket with 8:03 remaining.

Down four, 60-56, with 3:12 remaining, Royal scored the next four points on two layups and tied the game at 60-60 with just 1:22 remaining. After Duane Johnson made one of two free throws on the Warriors' next possession, Lauber spotted up for his eventual game-winner that gave Shippensburg a 63-61 lead.

Royal pulled down a rebound on a missed Warriors' shot on the next possession and was immediately fouled. The 75-percent free throw shooter on the season made both attempts and gave SU a commanding four-point advantage with just 22 seconds left.

After a quick layup from ESU's Russell Graham III, a foul on Pygatt sent the freshman to the line, where he sank both freebies with 15 ticks left to put SU back up by four.

The Raiders and Warriors continued their streak of close games, as six of the last nine meetings have been decided by five points or less.

Shippensburg will return home on Wednesday to face West Chester in an 8 p.m. tip from Heiges Field House.