CHEYNEY, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's basketball team maintained control following a fast start Saturday to top Cheyney, 84-66, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division game at Cope Hall.
               
Shippensburg (16-8, 13-7 PSAC) has now won four of its last five games and remains within a half-game of fourth place in the PSAC East standings. The Top 4 teams in the division are afforded a home game in the PSAC Tournament.
 
Sophomore Justin McCarthur was sensational again, leading SU with 21 points on the afternoon. The sophomore guard scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half as SU outscored Cheyney 52-41 in the final 20 minutes. McCarthur also had five rebounds and three steals off the SU bench.
 
Senior Tony Ellis also had a fine game, recorded his first double-double of the season on 19 points and 12 rebounds. The lanky forward also had three steals.
 
Sophomore Dustin Sleva and freshman Antonio Kellem also continued their stellar play of late.
 
Sleva scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds while Kellem totaled 14 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore Clay Conner received the start at point guard and led SU with 37 minutes. Conner committed just two turnovers while scoring five points and issuing a team-high six assists.
 
The Raiders as a team finished with 19 assists and nine turnovers.
 
SU began the game on a 26-12 run, but the Wolves were able to cut the Raiders' advantage to seven at half. Cheyney carried that momentum into the second half, and began the half on a 12-6 run to trim the SU lead to one.
 
However, the Raiders never trailed in the game as they promptly responded with an 8-0 run to take a nine-point lead. SU led by as many 20.
 
The Raiders will finish the regular season with back-to-back home games, beginning with a home game Wednesday against Lock Haven that will begin at 8 p.m. from Heiges Field House.