The Shippensburg University men's basketball team was held to a season-low six three-pointers on Saturday but limited host Mercyhurst to just 36 percent shooting, as the Raiders won their ninth straight game with a 66-56 victory over the Lakers in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
 
Shippensburg (17-3, 13-2 PSAC) got double-doubles from senior Dustin Sleva (15 points, 10 rebounds) and sophomore John Castello (16 points, 10 rebounds). Castello scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half and was key to the Raider surge coming out of halftime.
 
Sleva achieved his 50th career double-double and also grabbed his 1,000th career rebound in the contest – becoming just the second Raider in school history to total at least 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career (joining Keith Hill [1,780 points, 1,118 rebounds]).
 
Senior Justin McCarthur posted double figures for the 18th time in 19 games this season with 11 points. McCarthur hit his first three-point attempt of Saturday's game, and his last three-point attempt a week ago against Kutztown, ending his streak at 11 consecutive three-pointers made without a miss. He also finished Saturday with three assists and zero turnovers in 37 minutes.
 
Junior Antonio Kellem scored nine points on 4-of-7 shooting, while senior Clay Conner had seven points on 3-of-5 shooting. Off the bench, sophomore Na'Quan Council and freshman Jake Biss each hit a three-pointer.
 
The Raiders and Lakers were tied 34-34 at the intermission, ending a streak of 13 straight games in which Shippensburg had held a halftime lead. SU opened the second half on a 17-5 run over the first 10 minutes of play to take control.
 
Shippensburg finished the game 14-of-15 (93.3 percent) from the free-throw line. Both teams recorded 10 assists and 11 turnovers.
 
Mercyhurst (10-10, 7-9) lived up to its billing as the PSAC's No. 1 scoring defense by limiting the Raiders to less than 70 points for just the third time this season. The SU defense, however, limited the Lakers to just five points over the first 10 minutes of the second half. MU shot just 25 percent from the field in the second half and was 0-for-5 from three-point range down the stretch after going 6-for-8 from deep in the first half.
 
Shippensburg continues its road trip at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Millersville.