The Shippensburg University men's basketball team put four players in double figures and did not trail in the second half Wednesday night as it handed No. 8 West Chester its first loss of the season, dispatching the Golden Rams 79-70 in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division matchup from Hollinger Field House.
 
Shippensburg (11-3, 7-1 PSAC) posted a 45-37 rebound advantage over West Chester (13-1, 7-1), who entered as the nation's No. 2 rebounding team. The Raiders also held the conference's top scoring offense 18 points below its season average. SU committed just nine turnovers, scored 20 points off WCU turnovers, shot 15-of-16 (93.8 percent) at the free-throw line, and got 28 points from its bench.
 
SU weathered an early storm, as the hosts raced out to an 18-8 lead just 4:29 into the contest. West Chester managed just 14 points in the final 15 minutes of the half, however, as the Raiders closed the opening half on a 12-0 run in 2:07 to take a 39-32 lead into the intermission.
 
WCU did tie the score at 46-46 with 13:55 remaining, but SU got a three-pointer from senior Lamar Talley at 13:09 and would not trail the rest of the way, leading by as many as 13 points down the stretch.
 
Shippensburg shot 40 percent (10-of-25) from three-point range, marking just the third time this season that the Raiders have finished a game with double-digit three-pointers. SU entered the week ranked 16th in the league in three-pointers and last in percentage but has proceeded to shoot 27-of-62 (43.5 percent) from three-point range in its last two games.
 
Senior John Castello led the Raiders with 19 points, shooting 5-of-10 from the field including 3-of-5 from three-point range. He was 6-of-6 at the free-throw line and added four rebounds.
 
Sophomore Carlos Carter scored 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting; he equaled a career high with four assists and had three steals. Junior Jake Biss was held without a three-pointer but managed 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
 
Talley had six points, five rebounds and three assists and did not commit a turnover. Sophomore Luke Nedrow added five points.
 
The SU bench out-scored West Chester's bench, 28-8. Junior Kiyon Hardy equaled a career high with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Hardy was 2-of-3 from three-point range, 4-of-4 at the free-throw line, and had two steals.
 
Redshirt-sophomore Dom Sleva grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds. He also scored seven points, making 5-of-6 at the free-throw line. Sleva made all four of his attempts in the final 30 seconds that helped cement the victory. Senior Daylon Carter had five points and five rebounds.
 
Freshman Robbie Heath got his points, leading all players with 20 on 8-of-18 shooting. Josh Samec was WCU's most-efficient shooter, scoring 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting. Kyle McGee had 14 points. Tim Toro had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Malik Jackson was held to a season-low five points on 2-of-10 shooting.
 
The Golden Rams, who entered the game with the most free throws and free-throw attempts in the nation, finished 6-of-9 from the free-throw line.
 
The two teams have now exchanged wins and losses in each of the last nine meetings in the overall series.
 
Shippensburg remains on the road Saturday to face another vaunted rival in East Stroudsburg at 3 p.m. from Koehler Fieldhouse.