Box Score

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's basketball team capitalized on its best rebounding performance of the season and a solid second-half free throw percentage to close out a 72-61 home victory over California (Pa.) on Friday afternoon inside Heiges Field House.

Shippensburg (2-9), which led by as many as 23 points in the second half, cemented its victory by posting its highest team rebounding total of the season (52) and finished 12 ahead in the rebounding margin. Contributing to the rebounding effort in a major way were sophomore Tony Ellis and redshirt-freshman Marcus Williams who each recorded 11 rebounds.

Ellis did most of his damage in the first half as the sophomore forward hauled in 10 of his 11 total rebounds and scored all eight of his points. Williams led the team in the second half with six of his 11 total boards, all of which were defensive rebounds. The redshirt-freshman center also contributed offensively with five total points.

Shippensburg built and sustained a large lead following a 23-6 run during the last 10:30 of the first half. SU's run, coupled with a 22.6 percent first-half field goal percentage by the Vulcans (4-8), gave the Raiders the foundation they needed to capture head coach Chris Fite's first win inside Heiges Field House.

"Obviously you want to play great every game but we really haven't played well when we've played at home," Fite said. "So it feels really good first of all to get the win but also to be able to kind of get that monkey off our back here and for everyone to have a little bit of success here [in Heiges]."

The Raiders made a season-high 27 free throws on a season-high 36 attempts. Twenty-two of those 27 made free throws came in the second half as SU shot 75.9 percent from the charity stripe in the second half.

Sophomore Joe Lococo once again led Shippensburg in scoring with a game-high 27 points and matched his career high with nine rebounds. Lococo also matched his career high in made free throws as the sophomore guard knocked down a game-high 14 of his 16 attempts from the line.

Freshman Abe Massaley reached double figures for the ninth time this season as he scored 13 points in addition to collecting six rebounds and dishing out three assists.

Junior Sam Pygatt played a season-high 27 minutes and contributed eight points -- including a second-half dunk off an full-court in-bounds pass from Lococo -- while tying a season-high with five rebounds and nabbing two steals. Sophomore A.J. Maun played a season-high 12 minutes and hit five second-half free throws on six attempts.

"I see the progress day in and day out and I'm constantly telling them they're getting better, they're ready to break through, they're making strides, and so it's been frustrating for them to not be able to showcase that at home until today," Fite said.

Shippensburg has a quick turnaround as it will face Slippery Rock inside Heiges Field House tomorrow at 3 p.m.