SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's basketball team put four players in double figures Friday night and out-scored visiting Millersville 25-4 over the final 11 minutes of the first half to defeat the Marauders, 76-65, in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division opener from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (9-3, 5-1 PSAC) trailed 16-9 with 11:14 left in the first half, which prompted a timeout from head coach Chris Fite. The score was 18-18 just 4:35 before halftime when the Raiders closed the frame on an 18-2 run, punctuated by back-to-back three-pointers by senior Lamar Talley, to take a 36-20 lead into the intermission.
 
Millersville (5-7, 2-4) was just 2-of-13 (15.3 percent) from the field over the final 11:14 of the first half, committing eight of its 15 turnovers during the decisive stretch. The Marauders shot 59 percent from the field in the second half compared to just 28 percent in the first half, but the visitors would only get as close as within seven points of the lead down the stretch.
 
Three Raiders finished with a game-high 17 points, highlighted by redshirt-sophomore Dom Sleva delivering a double-double off the bench. In 27 minutes, Sleva scored 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, grabbed 11 rebounds and had two assists while finishing a game-high +21 on the floor. It is his second double-double and sixth double-digit scoring game of the season.
 
Sophomore Carlos Carter had 17 points for his sixth double-digit scoring effort of the season. He added three rebounds and three assists and was 5-of-5 at the free-throw line.
 
Junior Jake Biss reached double figures for the seventh time this season with 17 points, four assists and three rebounds. Talley, who finished the game 3-of-6 from three-point range, was a fourth Raider in double figures with 11 points. It was his third double-digit points game of the season.
 
Senior John Castello scored six points and led all players with 13 rebounds. All eight Raiders that saw the floor scored at least one point and had one assist: junior Kiyon Hardy had five points, while senior Daylon Carter added four.
 
Shippensburg dominated the glass, posting a 46-31 rebounding advantage. SU also held an 18-6 advantage in second-chance points and its bench outscored Millersville's, 24-7. The Raiders did finish just 12-of-18 (66 percent) at the free-throw line, matching its second-lowest output of the season.
 
Justin Nwosu scored 17 points in his return for the Marauders, while Mekhi Hendricks added 16 points. James Sullivan, MU's leading scorer, was held to just four points on 1-of-6 shooting.
 
Shippensburg hosts Mansfield at 8 p.m. Monday from Heiges Field House.