WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's basketball team put forth a stellar defensive effort Saturday but came away with a tough 64-59 loss to West Chester in an intense Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) game at Hollinger Field House.
                       
Shippensburg (12-7, 9-6 PSAC) and West Chester were tied 57-57 with 3:33 left when the Rams' Matt Penecale nailed a go-ahead three-pointer. SU responded with three consecutive stops defensively, but the Raiders were unable to connect on a field goal over the final 5:21.
 
For the afternoon, the Raiders held West Chester to 40.7 percent shooting. Entering Saturday, the Rams were averaging 81.2 points per game with a 44.7 field goal percentage on the season.
 
Sophomore Justin McCarthur and senior Jay Hardy shared the scoring lead for Shippensburg, totaling 11 points each.
 
Sophomore Dustin Sleva recorded nine points and five rebounds, while junior Abe Massaley had eight points, six rebounds and four assists.
 
After an early second-half bucket put West Chester up by three, the Raiders responded with a 10-2 run, which included 3-pointers by Massaley and freshman Antonio Kellem (Conway, Pa./Lincoln Park), to put SU up by five – the Raiders' largest lead. Neither team led by more than five in the entire game.
 
Senior David Craig, who provided six points and two rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench, converted on a layup at the 5:21 mark to put the Raiders up three. However, West Chester's Avery Brown knocked down a three-pointer to tie the game and Penecale's triple gave the Rams a lead they did not lose.
 
Kellem finished with eight points, including a pair of three-pointers. Senior Tony Ellis had four points and a team-high seven rebounds.
 
The Raiders have a quick turnaround as they will host East Stroudsburg Monday in a game being made up from a postponement on Jan. 23. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. from Heiges Fieldhouse.