The Shippensburg University men's basketball team kept pace at the top of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division race by staving off a late charge from the Kutztown Golden Bears Wednesday at KU's Keystone Arena, 87-80.
 
Shippensburg (15-8, 13-4 PSAC) guard Carlos Carter finished just two assists shy of what would have been the program's first triple-double on record, totaling 23 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists in the victory.
 
Kutztown (5-17, 5-12 PSAC) hung around after being down as many as 19 points in the second half, cutting the Shippensburg lead down to just four, 78-74 with 1:35 remaining. KU point guard Kyree Generett fueled the comeback attempt, pouring in a game-high 24 points, including a perfect 11-of-11 night at the foul line.
 
The first-place Raiders registered a 10-point lead at the half, 43-33, and grew the margin to 19, 60-41, following a Carter triple with 13:35 left. But a late scoring drought allowed the Golden Bears to creep back in.
 
After the hosts trimmed the deficit down to four, Carter collapsed the KU defense on a drive to the basket and found a cutting graduate Dom Sleva for a lefty and-one layup. Sleva missed the ensuing foul shot, keeping it a two-possession game, but Carter denied the Golden Bears with a block – his third of the night – on the opposite end.
 
The Raiders then took used patience to break down the Golden Bears' overly aggressive defense, with freshman Trey Martin finding a wide-open Carter for the clinching slam with 46 ticks remaining.
 
Shippensburg set a new season-high in assists (23) in the victory. The Raiders finished just two points shy of their season high point total, which was set in the previous meeting with the Golden Bears – an 89-62 win Jan. 21 at home.
 
Carter's 13 rebounds represented a new career-high, while his 8 helpers tied his previous best set Dec. 22 against Cal (Pa.).
 
Martin hit three first half triples on his way to a career-high nine points.
 
Sleva secured his NCAA Division II-leading 15th double-double, finishing with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists.
 
Graduate Luke Nedrow added 16 points and 8 boards.
 
Up next, the Raiders travel to Mansfield Saturday to battle the Mountaineers. Tip-off from Mansfield's Marion Decker Gymnasium is slated for 3 p.m.