The Shippensburg University men's basketball team came up short in the final moments of a back-and-forth battle against the Virginia State Trojans to wrap up the CIAA-PSAC Conference Challenge Saturday at Virginia State's Multipurpose Center, 76-71.
 
In a contest that featured 16 lead changes, Shippensburg (0-2) maintained a six-point advantage, 62-56, following a three from senior Carlos Carter with 6:20 remaining, but Virginia State closed the contest on a 20-9 run to come out ahead.
 
Virginia State (2-0) shot 57.7 percent from the field (15-of-26) and 17-of-23 from the free throw line (73.9 percent) in the second half.
 
Redshirt-senior Rashon Johnson gave the Raiders one last shot at victory with a personal 5-0 run inside the final minute that included a soaring dunk and a three-point make.
 
After back-to-back missed free throws by the Trojans, the Raiders had possession down just a single point, 72-71, with just 27 ticks left. Johnson pulled up for the possible go-ahead three-attempt, but his shot bounced off the back rim.
 
The Trojans then converted its final four attempts from the charity stripe to seal the victory.
 
Despite the loss, the Raiders got outstanding individual efforts from Johnson and graduate forward Dom Sleva.
 
Sleva led the way with a double-double, scoring a game-high 25 points and pulling down 13 rebounds in 40 minutes of action.
 
Johnson scorched the nets for 23 points, including a 4-of-7 night from beyond the arc. He also added a team-best 5 assists.
 
Carter, who fouled out around the six-minute mark of the second half, finished with 11 points in just 18 minutes.
 
For Virginia State, guard Zach Newkirk led four Trojans in double figures with 19 points.
 
Shippensburg is back in action Wednesday with a road tilt at Wilmington. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.