MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's basketball team got 19 first-half points from junior Jay Hardy on Wednesday and nearly rallied from a late eight-point deficit but could not notch a victory at rival Millersville, falling 74-69 to the Marauders in a pivotal league showdown at Pucillo Gymnasium.
 
Shippensburg (12-12, 8-12 PSAC) trailed by one point at halftime, 35-34, but never could pry the lead back from Millersville (13-13, 9-11).
 
Sophomore Abe Massaley converted on a three-point play to get the Raiders within two points, 68-66, with 50 seconds to play. On the ensuing possession, the Marauders missed two free throws after making their first 10 attempts of the night but the rebound stayed with Millersville.
 
Millersville's Sam Light, the fourth-best free-throw shooter in the PSAC (87.2 percent), made both of his attempts and the Raiders were unable to answer with a field goal in the final 20 seconds.
 
Senior Dylan Edgar scored 20 points and tied his career high with 17 rebounds for his league-leading 10th double-double of the season and second in the last three games. Edgar was a career-best 10-of-13 from the free-throw line – both numbers are season bests this season by a Raider.
 
Over his last three games, Edgar is 20-of-26 (76.9 percent) at the free-throw line.
 
Hardy started red hot on Wednesday, making his first six three-point attempts en route to a game-high 24 points. His total is one short of his career high set last season against Millersville.
 
Freshman Dustin Sleva was the third Raider in double figures, scoring 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting and a 3-of-3 effort at the free-throw line. Freshman Justin McCarthur had seven points and six assists, sophomore Abe Massaley had six points, five rebounds and four assists.
 
Both teams got all their scoring from six players. Millersville had a 28-2 advantage in bench scoring, as reserve guard Sam Light scored 18 points and forward Demerik Weglinski had 10 points. Tavon Parker had 14 points, including four first-half three-pointers.
 
SU was 21-of-27 (77.8 percent) at the free-throw line, while Millersville was 14-of-16 (87.5 percent).
 
The loss prevents the Raiders from hosting a PSAC playoff game, setting the stage for a pivotal final two games of the season. SU is currently the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Division, tied with Mansfield but possessing the tiebreaker due to the Raiders having a victory over the No. 1 seed (ESU). Lock Haven moved into the No. 5 seed with a win at Cheyney on Wednesday, and Millersville has now all but secured the No. 4 seed.   
 
Shippensburg travels to Lock Haven on Saturday for a 4 p.m. tip at Thomas Field House.