SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Junior Jake Biss and senior John Castello each scored 18 points Wednesday night to lead four Raiders in double figures as the Shippensburg University men's basketball team defeated Bowie State, 81-68, in a regional matchup from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (2-1) shot 59 percent from the field, including 61.5 percent in the first half, to overcome an uncharacteristically off night at the free-throw line (14-of-24, 58 percent). The Raiders attempted just 13 three-pointers, making five, and had 15 assists compared to 11 turnovers.
 
Bowie State (1-2), the preseason favorite in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) coaches' poll, shot just 32 percent in the first half and was just 3-of-10 overall from long range. The Bulldogs grabbed 21 offensive rebounds and had 15 second-chance points, finishing the game 40 percent overall from the field.
 
SU used excellent passing to get off to a hot start, making each of its first six field-goal attempts and recording assists on four of them. The Raiders led 9-0 within the first 2:30 and never trailed. Shippensburg started out 10-of-12 from the field, building a 22-8 lead midway through the first half.
 
Biss was 8-of-12 from the field, including a make on his lone three-point attempt, to complement four assists, two rebounds and two steals. Castello was 6-of-12 from the field, including 2-of-5 from three-point range, and had three rebounds.
 
Sophomore Carlos Carter scored all 13 of his points in the first half, finishing 5-of-6 from the field. Redshirt-sophomore Dom Sleva had 10 points, making 2-of-3 from three-point range, to complement four rebounds.
 
Sophomore center Luke Nedrow continues to assert himself in the post and was an excellent distributor Wednesday night. Nedrow scored seven points, grabbed three rebounds, and led all players with six assists.
 
Junior Kiyon Hardy had nine points, nine rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal in 25 minutes off the bench. Redshirt-junior Derek Ford made both of his field-goal attempts to finish with four points.
 
Saiquan Jamison paced the visitors with 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Yohance Fleming added 12 points.
 
Shippensburg travels to Wilmington (Del.) this weekend for a 2 p.m. Saturday tip-off against the Wildcats.
 
SCHEDULE NOTE: Tuesday's home match vs. Dickinson will now tip at 3 p.m. from Heiges Field House.