The surging Shippensburg University men's basketball team picked up its fourth straight win, and sixth in its last seven contests in what was a closely contested battle against the Bloomsburg Huskies Wednesday evening on the road, 77-68.
 
In a game where both teams shot an identical 27-for-59 (45.8%) from the floor, Shippensburg (10-6, 8-2 PSAC) was able to gain an advantage inside the paint and at the foul line. The Raiders outscored the Huskies inside the painted area 38-to-22, led by 22 points and 9 rebounds from graduate Dom Sleva. They also converted 19-of-23 (82.6%) from the charity stripe, as opposed to 5-of-7 (71.4%) from the foul line for the Huskies.
 
Bloomsburg (0-14, 0-10 PSAC) trailed for much of the game, but kept it close thanks to a hot shooting night from Jake Nelson. The Husky forward drained 11-of-16 attempts from the field, including 2-of-2 from three, for a game-high 24 points and 9 rebounds.
 
Raider sophomore Satchel Ball sank a three at the first half buzzer to give SU a four-point cushion, 35-31, following a back-and-forth first 20 minutes.
 
The Ship momentum failed to carry over into the second half, and Nelson tied the game up at 42-42 with a three with 16 minutes left.
 
Sleva responded with a three-point play in the paint that sparked a crucial 9-0 Raider run.
 
Shippensburg did not pull away, however, until the final two minutes. Senior Carlos Carter provided the big bucket late, getting a friendly roll on a pull up jumper late in the shot clock to put the visitors back up eight with a minute remaining, 72-64.
 
Redshirt senior Rashon Johnson recorded his third double-double of the season in the win, racking up 16 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. Carter finished with 16 points, six boards and three helpers, while graduate Luke Nedrow added 10 points and three assists.
 
Next up, the Raiders return to Heiges Field House to host the Kutztown Golden Bears Saturday at 3 p.m.