SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's basketball team survived a second-half charge from visiting Millersville on Wednesday night to defeat the Marauders, 69-66, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Quarterfinal at Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (23-6) held a 33-20 halftime lead after limiting Millersville (15-15) to 24-percent shooting in the first half, but the Marauders rebooted after the intermission and began chipping away at their double-digit deficit. SU held a 10-point lead with 7:17 remaining, but Millersville used an 8-0 run to make it a two-point game at the 5:53 mark.
 
The contest was within two possessions or less the rest of the way, with the Marauders getting within one point on multiple occasions in the final minute. Junior Kiyon Hardy made four free throws in the final 13 seconds to keep the Raiders up by three points before Millersville missed a contested three-pointer at the buzzer that could have tied the game.
 
Shippensburg shot 33 percent from the field, including 28 percent from three-point range. It is the lowest three-point percentage for the Raiders in the last 18 games. SU, the conference's top free-throw shooting team, shot 64 percent (14-of-22) at the free-throw line.
 
Millersville finished 42 percent from the field, including 58 percent in the second half. The Marauders shot 71 percent (12-of-17) at the free-throw line.
 
The Raiders out-rebounded the Marauders, 53-41. SU had 24 offensive rebounds and 15 second-chance points.
 
Senior Lamar Talley was the key for the Raiders on the night, finishing with 17 points (one short of a career high) to go along with nine rebounds, an assist and zero turnovers. It is the second time in his career that Talley has been the team's sole scoring leader in a game.
 
Talley was one of four Raiders in double figures. Redshirt-sophomore Dom Sleva contributed 12 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Hardy had 10 points, six rebounds and three assists off the bench.
 
Sophomore Luke Nedrow was limited to 17 minutes due to foul trouble but the most of his offensive opportunities, scoring 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting including a three-pointer. Junior Jake Biss was limited to seven points, while senior John Castello managed five points and nine rebounds.
 
Caden Najdawi paced the Marauders with a double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds. Khari Williams surpassed 1,000 points for his career, totaling 13 on the night. James Sullivan, who played all 120 minutes of the three games between the Raiders and Marauders this season, had 10 points.
 
With the win, Shippensburg earned the right to host the PSAC Men's Basketball Final Four for the first time in school history. The Raiders host Mercyhurst at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the semifinals at Heiges Field House.