The Shippensburg University men's basketball team overcame a 17-point deficit in the first half on Monday night to gain a lead in the second half, but homestanding Millersville rallied for a 56-55 victory over the Raiders in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division clash at Pucillo Gymnasium.
 
Shippensburg (11-7, 9-3 PSAC) trailed 34-17 with 3:15 remaining in the first half but closed on a 10-0 run to get within seven points of Millersville (10-8, 7-5) at halftime.
 
SU held the Marauders to just 22 total points and 26-percent shooting from the field in the second half but went scoreless for an 8:39 span after taking a four-point lead with 9:02 to play. Late three-pointers by graduate Dom Sleva and freshman Trey Martin snapped the long scoring drought and got Shippensburg within one point of the lead with 13 seconds left.
 
Millersville successfully in-bounded the ball and nearly kept the ball away from the Raiders down to the final horn, but Sleva wrestled the ball free for a steal with just over three seconds left, and SU managed a game-winning shot attempt from close range that fell just short off the front of the rim as time expired.
 
Sleva finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds for his 12th double-double of the season. He regains the nation's lead in double-doubles while continuing to lead the nation in rebounds per game (12.5), defensive rebounds per game (9.89) and total rebounds (178).
 
Senior Carlos Carter led the Raiders on the night with 15 points, while redshirt-sophomore Andrew Recchia was an efficient 5-of-7 from the field for 11 points in addition to five rebounds and four assists without a turnover.
 
Freshman Denzel Figueroa was key off the bench for the Raiders, contributing nine points on 4-of-5 shooting. Redshirt-senior Rashon Johnson could not shake foul trouble on the night, managing just three points and seven rebounds.
 
Matt Dade, in his first year at Millersville after transferring from West Chester, led the Marauders with 15 points. He was a solid 5-of-10 from the field and 5-of-8 from the free-throw line. Millersville committed just nine turnovers on the night and got 23 points from its bench.
 
The Raiders had a four-game winning streak at Pucillo Gymnasium snapped Monday night and have now lost two-in-a-row to the Marauders dating back to last season. SU had won eight of the previous nine meetings over Millersville prior to last year's 55-51 loss in another physical contest that was held at Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg concludes a stretch of three games in five days on Wednesday at 8 p.m. when it hosts Shepherd at Heiges Field House.