SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's basketball team worked through a tough shooting night Friday to hang with IUP for much of the second half before the Crimson Hawks were able to pull away in the final minutes to beat the Raiders, 70-51, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover at Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (4-4, 1-4 PSAC) trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half, but was able to climb back within eight points of IUP at the half. The Raiders then opened the second half on an 8-3 run to cut the IUP lead to just three points. However, SU did not come closer to IUP as the Crimson Hawks slowly distanced themselves.
 
The Raiders were balanced offensively as four different players reached double digits in points. Junior Abe Massaley and sophomore Dustin Sleva led the way for SU with 11 points each.
 
Sleva, who played all 40 minutes, made it his fifth double-double of the season as he grabbed 12 rebounds. Massaley led SU with four assists.
 
Redshirt-freshman Manny Span scored a career-best 10 points and recorded five rebounds. Senior Jay Hardy made his way into double figures for the first time this season with 10 points and five rebounds.
 
Unfortunately for SU, the Raiders shot just 32.2 percent from the field and 20 percent from beyond the arc after hot shooting from deep earlier in the week.
 
The Raiders made up for the lack of shooting with plenty of fight on the boards. SU outrebounded IUP 37-35, including an 18-8 advantage on the offensive glass.
 
Both teams had 16 turnovers and 10 assists.
 
The Raiders will look to rebound Saturday with a 4 p.m. start against Seton Hill from Heiges Field House.