SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's basketball team used a 17-4 run midway through the second half on Saturday to boost the Raiders past PSAC East foe West Chester, 74-68, inside Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (5-2, 1-2 PSAC) limited West Chester (3-5, 2-2) to 27.6-percent shooting on 8-of-29 attempts from the field in the first half. However, SU found itself trailing 30-22 with 1:55 remaining in the period.
 
The Raiders put together a 9-2 run in the final 1:29 of the half on three-point buckets from freshman Justin McCarthur and juniors Jay Hardy and A.J. Maun. The run got SU to within one point of the lead, 32-31 before half.
 
SU trailed 40-36 before embarking on a 17-4 run, resulting in its largest lead of the afternoon at 50-42 with 11:15 remaining.
 
In the final three minutes, the two teams combined for 16 free-throws and just one field goal. The Raiders connected on 15-of-18 free-throw opportunities in the second half with all 18 attempts taking place in the final 7:49 of the game.
 
The Golden Rams had a chance to tie it in the final 30 seconds but missed a potential game-tying three pointer. Sophomore Abe Massaley grabbed the rebound, was promptly fouled, and sent to the line where he sealed the victory by converting on both free-throw attempts.
 
Junior Jay Hardy had a team-high 21 points including a 5-of-10 performance from three-point range. Senior Dylan Edgar totaled 12 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
 
Massaley had 13 points, including a 7-of-8 mark at the free-throw line (all in the second half), five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
 
McCarthur recorded eight points, five assists and two steals while junior Tony Ellis scored six points and pulled down a season-best seven boards.
 
Shippensburg will travel Dec. 16 to California (Pa.) for a 7:30 p.m. matchup with the Vulcans from the Convocation Center.