SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. — The Shippensburg University men's basketball team will host Mercyhurst at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Semifinal at Heiges Field House.

This is the first time that Shippensburg has ever hosted the PSAC Men's Basketball Final Four. Shippensburg won its first Eastern Division championship this season and just its third divisional title in school history.

It is also the first time since 1981 that the PSAC Men's Basketball Final Four features each of the previous four champions squaring off (2019 - IUP, 2018 - East Stroudsburg, 2017 - Shippensburg, 2016 - Mercyhurst).

Saturday marks the first meeting between the two teams since a 62-60 victory by the Raiders on Dec. 29, 2018 at Heiges Field House. In 2016, Mercyhurst defeated Shippensburg in a PSAC Semifinal at West Chester, 79-68, en route to the league title.

Full game notes, conference tournament central, and a live video link can be accessed through the pages linked in the blue boxes at the top of this article.

PSAC TOURNAMENT HISTORY

• SHIP is making its 14th PSAC Tournament appearance.
• SHIP has a 15-12 record in the PSAC Tournament.
• SHIP has reached the PSAC Championship game three times, having posted a 2-1 record.
• Head Coach Chris Fite has posted an 9-4 career record in the PSAC Tournament (2015-present). The Raiders went 6-8 in the PSAC Tournament from 1980-2014.

TEAM DEFENSE

• SHIP has held its opponent to less than 70 points in 21-of-29 games.
• SHIP has held its opponent to less than 60 points in six games, including two straight.
• SHIP is 1-3 this season when allowing 80 or more points in a game (Fairmont St. (72-84), Pitt-Johnstown (73-81), Kutztown (94-82), Lock Haven (103-104 (OT2))).

CASTELLO 2020

• Since the New Year, Castello is averaging a double-double (13.6 PPG, 10.3 RPG) over the last 18 games while shooting 46 percent from the field, 39 percent from three-point range, and 79 percent at the free-throw line.

COACH OF THE YEAR CHRIS FITE

• SHIP is 118-34 under head coach Chris Fite over the last five seasons.
• SHIP has had five straight 20-win seasons under Fite. Shippensburg totaled two 20-win seasons in its 62 previous seasons prior to the current run.
• SHIP's Eastern Division championship is its first in school history and its first divisional championship of any kind in 14 years. SHIP won the PSAC Western Division in 2005-06 and 1988-89.