SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The No. 22 Shippensburg men's basketball team hit 15 three-pointers on Monday night – its most in a game in eight years – and had four players post double figures in a regional victory over Shepherd, 88-62, from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (9-0), maintaining its best start in school history, was tied 29-29 with Shepherd (4-5) just 6:19 before halftime. The Raiders closed the first half on a 17-5 run to lead at the intermission, 46-34, before opening the second half on a 19-3 run. In total, it was a 28-point swing over just 12 minutes of basketball.
 
Monday's victory also avenged a 93-67 loss to the Rams last December in Shepherdstown – the only non-conference loss sustained by the Raiders during the 2015-16 season.
 
Ball movement and torrid three-point shooting keyed the Raider scoring effort. SU hit 6-of-10 three-pointers in the final 6:34 of the first half before making its first three attempts from distance in the second half. Additionally, the Raiders committed just one turnover in the first 28 minutes of play, and finished the game with just six. SU has had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio in 8-of-9 contests this season.
 
Junior Dustin Sleva and freshman John Castello recorded double-doubles. Sleva notched his seventh of the year with 20 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Castello recorded his fourth double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Sophomore Antonio Kellem was torrid Monday night, shooting 6-of-9 from three-point range and 8-of-13 overall to finish with a game-high 22 points. Kellem hit six three-pointers in a game for the second time this season (6-of-7 vs. Edinboro).
 
Senior Abe Massaley helped kick-start SU's huge run and finished with 18 points and six assists compared to just one turnover. Massaley also had two steals and a block in just 23 minutes on the floor while shooting 6-of-8 from the floor – including 4-of-6 from three-point range.
 
Junior Justin McCarthur had five points and five assists without a turnover, while sophomore Joe Marshall scored four points and grabbed three rebounds off the bench. Junior Clay Conner had two points and three assists.
 
Shepherd got a strong effort from Naim Muhammad before he fouled with eight minutes to go – Muhammad had 15 points in 20 minutes of action. Chambersburg product Skyler Roman had 13 points.
 
Shippensburg will now break for the holiday and return to action with a showdown start to the PSAC Eastern Division schedule on Friday, December 30. SU will travel to No. 16 Kutztown for a 7:30 p.m. clash that evening with the Golden Bears.
 
Note: SU hit 15 three-pointers at UPJ on Jan. 2, 2008 in a 87-85 loss to the Mountain Cats. In that game, Alex Jones tied a school record with eight three-pointers in scoring 30 points.