SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's basketball team used a strong start on Saturday to get back on track in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play, as the Raiders hit nine three-pointers in the first half and never trailed in defeating Gannon, 65-48, in a league matchup from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (5-2, 2-1 PSAC) had all five starters score eight or more points. Sophomore John Castello led the Raiders with 16 points while grabbing nine rebounds. He hit a career-high four three-pointers on eight attempts.
 
Senior Dustin Sleva posted his fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and three rebounds while blocking three shots. Senior Justin McCarthur and junior Antonio Kellem each had 12 points, while senior Clay Conner had eight points. Conner and Kellem each handed out five assists.
 
Gannon (4-4, 1-2) shot 36 percent from the field, including 1-of-11 (9.1 percent) from three-point range. Each team managed just five made free throws.
 
Shippensburg hit 4-of-5 from three-point range in the first four minutes of play to build a 14-2 lead at the first media timeout and led by double digits for the remainder of the contest. The Raiders shot 55 percent in the opening half to lead 42-23 at the intermission.
 
SU hit the skids in the middle of the second half, going 7:29 without scoring a point, but closed the game on a 10-3 run that included three-pointers by Castello and McCarthur.
 
The Raiders posted a positive assist-to-turnover ratio for the sixth time in seven games this season (17 assists, 11 turnovers) and scored 17 points off 13 Gannon turnovers.
 
Shippensburg hosts Clarion at 3 p.m. Sunday from Heiges Field House.