SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Junior Jake Biss scored 24 of his game-high 32 points in the first half on Friday night as the Shippensburg University men's basketball team opened the 2019-20 season with a 77-62 win over Virginia Union in action from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (1-0) used an early 15-2 run to build a 12-point lead, 20-8, just six minutes into the contest. Biss, who equaled his career high, made his first eight shots from the field – including a 5-of-5 efficiency from three-point range. He finished with eight rebounds, three steals and two assists.
 
Senior John Castello added 18 points and seven rebounds, while senior Lamar Talley chipped in with 13 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Both Castello and Talley were 6-of-6 at the free-throw line; the Raiders finished the game 27-of-29 (93 percent) at the charity stripe.
 
Sophomore Luke Nedrow debuted with 10 rebounds, totaling four points. Junior Kiyon Hardy had four points and five assists in his Raider debut.
 
Redshirt-sophomore Dom Sleva had two points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Sophomore Carlos Carter had four points and three assists.
 
The teams combined for 37 turnovers – including 20 by the Raiders. Excluding Biss's five three-pointers, the rest of the Raiders were just 1-of-15 from long range in the game.
 
Union got 23 points and four assists from Terrell Leach. Dedric Byrd and Tyriek Railey each added 13 points.

Shippensburg faces Virginia State at 8 p.m. Saturday from Heiges Field House.