The Shippensburg University men's basketball team was unable to shake off the rust offensively in a season opening loss to Virginia Union Friday in the first game of the CIAA-PSAC Conference Challenge from Virginia State University's Multipurpose Center, 60-56.
Shippensburg (0-1) struggled from three-point territory throughout the contest, shooting just 2-of-12 in each half and 4-of-24 overall from beyond the arc (16.7 percent). The Raiders also shot just 20-of-58 (34.5 percent) overall.
Virginia Union (1-0) did not fare much better, shooting just 24-of-64 (37.5 percent) from the field and 3-of-15 (20 percent) from beyond the arc in the win.
The Raiders held a four-point lead, 22-18, with 7:25 remaining in the first half before a decisive 17-2 Panther run over the next six minutes gave Virginia Union an 11-point advantage, 35-24, just before the half.
A three-point make from freshman guard
Trey Martin (Boiling Springs, Pa./Boiling Springs) with 17 seconds remaining cut the deficit to a more manageable six points at the break, 35-29.
Shippensburg attempted to scratch and claw its way back against the Panthers in the second half, but could not get the spark needed from three-point range.
Graduate
Luke Nedrow (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic (Marist))
Luke Nedrow drained a pair of free throws to get the Raiders within four points of the opposition with 27 ticks left. That was as close as the Raiders had gotten since the 4:41 mark of the first half.
The Raiders saw three players reach double figures, led by redshirt-senior
Rashon Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Simon Gratz (Highland C.C.)) with 12 points. Senior
Carlos Carter (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) contributed 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while graduate
Dom Sleva (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour) posted 11 points and seven boards.
Redshirt-sophomore
Andrew Recchia (Mars, Pa./Mars Area) got the start at point guard and tallied two points and two assists in 16 minutes.
Martin finished with six points in his collegiate debut. Another freshman,
Timmy Conner (Frederick, Md./Linganore), tallied six points and two assists.
Robert Osborne flirted with a triple-double, amassing 19 points, 11 boards, and 5 assists to lift the Panther to a win.
The Raiders are back in action for the final game of the CIAA-PSAC Conference Challenge Saturday. Tip-off against the Virginia State Trojans is set for 7 p.m.
