SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Sophomore point guard Jake Biss had a breakthrough performance with a career-high 30 points on Saturday and the Shippensburg University men's basketball team hit seven of its eight three-pointers in the second half to post a pivotal 76-70 victory over rival East Stroudsburg in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (12-3, 6-1 PSAC) righted itself from a tough loss on Wednesday with a 47-point second half in which it shot 53 percent from the field – including 64 percent (7-of-11) from three-point range. The Raiders shot 48 percent overall for the game and 80 percent (8-of-10) at the free-throw line while holding the visitors 14 points below their season scoring average.
 
Biss entered Saturday with a previous career high of 18 points – he scored 19 points in the second half Saturday to cap off his 30-point performance. He was 13-of-23 from the field, including 3-of-4 from three-point range, and posted a game-high five assists. His work from the point guard was integral against ESU's signature press.
 
Junior John Castello posted his third straight double-double and sixth of the season with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Castello, who was held scoreless in the first half, made 3-of-4 from three-point range to key the Raiders after going 1-for-15 from long range over his previous three contests.
 
Redshirt-senior Manny Span maintained his strong play with eight points and nine rebounds, finishing 4-of-6 from the field. Span also equaled a career high with three assists, including two looks to Castello that resulted in three-pointers.  
 
Senior Antonio Kellem contributed 12 points – including four free throws in the final 18 seconds that sealed the Raider victory. Kellem posted double figures for the 12th time this season and the 67th game of his career. He added seven rebounds, an assist and a steal.
 
Kellem's free throws capped a close game that featured six ties and 11 lead changes, but the Warriors never led by more than four points. Shippensburg led by as many as 10 points in the second half, a juncture in which ESU immediately equaled with a 10-0 run. The Raiders closed on a 12-6 run after the score was tied with 4:56 to play.  
 
Junior Lamar Talley scored nine points, including a pair of three-pointers. Redshirt-freshman Dom Sleva and junior Daylon Carter each added a bucket off the bench, while freshman Carlos Carter contributed three rebounds.
 
East Stroudsburg (9-4, 6-1 PSAC) had a 19-game conference winning streak snapped that dated back to Jan. 31, 2018 – the game in which Justin McCarthur set a PSAC record by going 9-of-9 from three-point range. The Warriors forced Shippensburg into a season-high 21 turnovers but committed 16 of their own, and shot just 27 percent (6-of-22) from three-point range.
 
All five Warrior starters scored at least nine points, including a double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds) by Josh Williams. Montrel Morgan also had 15 points, shooting 5-of-6 from the field and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line.
 
The SU defense was excellent in the first half, limiting East Stroudsburg to 30-percent shooting over the first 20 minutes of play. The Warriors were held to just 12 points and 22-percent shooting (5-of-22) through the opening 15:14 of play.
 
Saturday marked the 100th collegiate victory for Shippensburg head coach Chris Fite, whose record improved to 100-61 in his sixth season directing the Raiders. Fite is the only SU head coach with multiple 20-win seasons, a feat he has now accomplished three straight years. Shippensburg is 84-24 under Fite since the start of the 2015-16 season.
 
UP NEXT: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. at Millersville.