SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's basketball team engaged in a defensive struggle with PSAC East rival Millersville on Saturday but came up on the short end of the result, dropping a 61-54 decision to the Marauders from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (8-8, 4-8 PSAC) had three players post double figures in scoring, with freshman Justin McCarthur posting 17 points in addition to seven rebounds. He was 7-of-7 at the free-throw line, and hit a pair of three-pointers in the game's first four minutes.
 
Senior Dylan Edgar achieved his seventh double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds. He was excellent at the free-throw line, shooting 6-of-7 at the charity stripe, and added two assists in 35 minutes. Sophomore Abe Massaley added 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.
 
Millersville (9-9, 6-7) closed the first half on a 7-1 run to transform a one-point deficit to a five-point halftime advantage, 34-29. The Marauders scored the first five points of the second half and would eventually lead by 13 points, 47-34, with 12:59 to go.
 
Over the next 12 minutes, however, the Raiders held the visitors to just six points – as SU trailed just 53-50 with 55 seconds to go. The Marauders did not miss down the stretch and made all four of its free-throw attempts to secure the win.
 
Freshman Dustin Sleva had four points and seven rebounds. Juniors Jay Hardy and A.J. Maun had three points.
 
Both teams made four three-pointers in the game and shot 78 percent from the free-throw line.
 
Shippensburg hosts Lock Haven at 8 p.m. Wednesday from Heiges Field House.