SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's basketball team dropped a physical clash with regional foe Virginia State on Saturday, 58-54, to cap off the 2019 Conference Challenge from Heiges Field House.
Shippensburg (1-1) shot just 28.1 percent overall, marking its lowest output from the field in nine years. SU was 23 percent (7-of-31) from three-point range but once again excelled at the free-throw line, shooting 92 percent (11-of-12).
Virginia State (2-0), which defeated East Stroudsburg on Friday, shot 38 percent from the field. The Trojans won the rebounding battle, 48-40, and posted a 34-20 advantage from the paint.
The Raiders fell behind 9-0 after the opening five minutes but battled back to a tie score, 17-17, with 5:33 left in the first half. SU trailed by eight, 41-33, with 12:16 remaining, before clawing back to take its first lead with 4:14 on a pair of free throws by senior
Lamar Talley.
Shippensburg led 50-46 with 3:20 remaining after a Talley three-pointer, and held a 52-49 lead with 2:01 left after a jumper by junior
Kiyon Hardy. The Trojans closed strong, however, scoring on three consecutive possessions and clinching the win at the free-throw line.
Talley, junior
Jake Biss and senior
John Castello were named to the All-Tournament Team. Castello led the Raiders with 14 points and nine rebounds on Saturday. Talley had 12 points and seven rebounds. Biss scored seven points to complement five assists and five rebounds.
Hardy scored 10 points, while sophomore
Carlos Carter chipped in with seven points and four of SU's six steals. Sophomores
Dom Sleva and
Luke Nedrow each had two points and six rebounds.
Virginia State's Lual Daniel Rahama was named Tournament MVP; he had four points and a game-high 13 rebounds Saturday after posting a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds in Friday's win over East Stroudsburg. Andrew Corum earned All-Tournament Team honors after totaling 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals.
Shippensburg is back in action at 7 p.m. Wednesday against CIAA-preseason favorite Bowie State from Heiges Field House.
