Box Score

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's basketball team got a game-high 28 points from sophomore Joe Lococo and put forth a sturdy effort against the No. 6 team in the country Wednesday evening but dropped a 75-57 decision to East Stroudsburg inside Heiges Field House.

Shippensburg (2-20, 0-12 PSAC East) held the league's highest-scoring team more than 12 points below its season average but was unable to generate balance in its first-half scoring.

Lococo had 20 of SU's 29 points in the first half on 5-of-9 shooting and a 7-of-8 performance at the free-throw line. He finished the contest 5-of-7 from three-point range, tying his career high, to go along with four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Lococo was also just five points short of his career high.

Sophomore Jay Hardy had the other nine points in the first half – including a pair of three-pointers. Hardy finished with 12 points.

In both meetings this season with East Stroudsburg (22-1, 12-1 PSAC), SU committed 15 turnovers – which ties the fewest allowed by the Warriors in a game this season (Mercyhurst and UPJ also had 15). ESU entered Wednesday's matchup forcing 20 turnovers per contest and ranked second in the country in turnover margin.  

SU trailed 34-20 with 3:54 remaining in the opening half before embarking upon a 9-0 run to get within five points of the Warriors, 34-29. ESU managed five points in the final 24 seconds of the half to stretch its lead to 10 points at the intermission.

The Raiders fell behind by 13 points just three minutes into the second half before a 6-0 run got the team within seven points – a margin that would recur multiple times in the final frame. With 9:22 remaining in the game, ESU went on a 10-0 run over the next 2:57 to build what proved to be an insurmountable lead.

East Stroudsburg shot 46 percent from the field in the first half and drained nine three-pointers in the contest. The Warriors also scored 20 points off turnovers and benefited from 24 bench points.

SU managed a 20-16 rebounding advantage in the first half but finished the game two behind East Stroudsburg – who recorded 10 offensive rebounds in the first four minutes of the second half.

Freshman Keelan Adams made his first career start and finished with two points, two assists and a career-high seven rebounds. Junior Mark Wilmer matched Adams with seven rebounds, tying his career high set in the second game of the year versus Shepherd.

Shippensburg travels to West Chester on Saturday for a 3 p.m. matchup with the Golden Rams inside Hollinger Fieldhouse.