SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's basketball team rallied in the second half Tuesday night but ultimately could not get past visiting Cal U, dropping a 70-67 decision to the visiting Vulcans in a physical non-conference matchup at Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (2-2) held Cal U (4-1) more than 20 points below its season scoring average, as the Vulcans entered Tuesday having scored 92 or more points in all four of their games. SU shot just 35 percent from the field, however, as the visitors held the Raiders to a season-low in both points and three-point percentage.
 
The Raiders got 21 points and nine rebounds from junior Carlos Carter, who hit all three of SU's three-pointers on the night, in addition to double-doubles from redshirt-junior Rashon Johnson and junior Luke Nedrow. Johnson had 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Nedrow had 12 points, 14 rebounds and three assists.
 
Cal got its third straight double-double from Philip Alston, the reigning Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division Athlete of the Week – Alston scored a game-high 23 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked four shots. Talented point guard Brent Pegram added 15 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
 
Shippensburg trailed by seven points at halftime and by as many as 12 points in the second half. The Raiders were down eight points with 2:50 to go but rallied and got within two points on a Carter three-pointer with 33 seconds remaining. SU had a chance to tie in the final 30 seconds, down three points with the ball, but missed a three-pointer and ultimately settled for a putback lay-up with eight seconds left. Its final chance to tie, down three points with five seconds left, ended in a turnover.
 
SU managed a 46-36 edge in rebounds and a 19-7 advantage in points off turnovers. The Raiders also outscored the Vulcans in the paint, 34-26.
 
Shippensburg will take a break for the Thanksgiving holiday and return to action Friday, Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. when it hosts Mercyhurst. It will be the first meeting between the two teams since the 2020 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Men's Basketball Semifinals.