SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's basketball team shot 9-of-12 from three-point range in the first half on Saturday, as the Raiders rode a hot start and posted a season high in points to get past Millersville, 94-72, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (9-3, 5-2 PSAC) scored a season-high 57 first-half points, shooting 23-of-34 (67.6 percent) from the field in the opening 20 minutes. The Raiders set season highs in bench scoring (27 points, 26 of which came in the first half), points in the paint (48) and second-chance points (17). Eight different SU players contributed to the scoring barrage, each of whom finished with six or more points.
 
The Raiders posted a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, recording a season-high 22 assists compared to 11 turnovers. Shippensburg finished the game shooting a season-best 57.6 percent from the field.
 
SU led 57-40 at halftime and by as many as 22 points in the game. Millersville (4-10, 2-6 PSAC) was not able to cut its deficit to less than 13 points during the second half. Saturday's game was the fourth out of the last six in which Shippensburg posted a wire-to-wire victory.
 
Senior All-American Dustin Sleva narrowly missed another double-double, finishing with 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals. Sleva extended his streak of posting double figures to 53 straight games despite finishing without a three-pointer for the second straight game. He had entered the week on a run of hitting a three-pointer in 40-of-41 games. Sleva totaled nine or more rebounds for the 11th time in 12 games and posted multiple assists for the 10th time.
 
Sleva also moved into third place on SU's all-time scoring list; he now has 1,635 points in 99 career games. Saturday's performance moved him past Raider Hall of Famer Brian Cozzens (1978-82; 1,627 points).
 
Senior Justin McCarthur also scored 16 points, making 4-of-7 from three-point range and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. McCarthur had three assists and two rebounds. It is his 16th straight game posting double figures.
 
Sophomore John Castello notched his third double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Castello had five of SU's 12 offensive rebounds, marking the 11th straight game that he has recorded multiple offensive rebounds in a game.
 
Sophomore Na'Quan Council had his best game as a Raider with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting including a perfect 3-of-3 finish from three-point range. Council was SU's leading scorer at the half, having scored 11 of his 12 points. It is his sixth career game posting double figures and first time doing so as a Raider.
 
Junior Antonio Kellem scored 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including his seventh straight game with multiple three-pointers. Senior Clay Conner scored eight points and handed out seven assists.
 
Freshman Jake Biss scored nine points on 4-of-5 shooting, while junior Joe Marshall contributed six points.
 
SU's bench did not miss in the first half, shooting 11-of-11 from the field including 4-of-4 from three-point range. Council (11 points) and Biss (9 points) were 4-of-4 from the field, while Marshall (6 points) was 3-of-3.
 
Millersville entered the game as the NCAA Division II leader in steals and ranked No. 4 in turnovers forced, making it back-to-back games for the Raiders facing a high-pressure attack after Wednesday's game with ESU.
 
However, the Marauders managed just one steal in the opening 20 minutes, as SU had recorded 15 assists compared to just four turnovers. Millersville finished with just five steals, ending a streak of seven straight games with 10 or more steals.
 
The visitors got 20 points from Marcus Adkison and 13 points from Caden Najdawi. Conrad Chambers scored nine points on 4-of-6 shooting in the first half but was benched for much of the final 20 minutes of play.
 
Shippensburg travels to rival Kutztown on Monday for a 7:30 p.m. showdown with the Golden Bears.
 
Notes: SHIP is 34-3 at home over the last three seasons, including 7-0 in 2017-18…SHIP has made at least eight three-pointers in every game this season…SHIP posted a positive assist-to-turnover ratio for the 11th time in 12 games.