The Shippensburg University Men's Basketball team was bested by Pitt-Johnstown in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup Wednesday evening at UPJ's Sports Center, 94-77.
The Raiders (5-6, 2-4 PSAC) succumbed to the Mountain Cats (5-7, 3-3) despite a game-high 27 points, including a career-best four made three-pointers, from redshirt-freshman
Markus Frank, and a career-high 15 points from sophomore guard
Timmy Conner on 7-of-11 shooting (63.6%) off the Raider bench.
The Mountain Cats shot 50.7 percent from the field overall and 52.7 percent in the second half as three different players totaled 19-or-more points, led by a career-high 21 by freshman guard Nick Watts. Additionally, UPJ out-rebounded the Raiders 47-to-37 despite being ranked 17th in the conference in rebounding margin at -5.8 entering Wednesday's game.
Junior
Kyle Whippen made an early statement for the visitors, dunking on a UPJ player for the Raiders' first basket. Whippen's stat-stuffing performance included a season-high 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting, a career-high tying four assists, five boards and two blocked shots.
Conner later converted a pair of tough takes to the basket to help the Raiders keep pace with the opposition, and drained a deep three from near the midcourt logo to make it a one-point game, 31-30, with 5:26 remaining in the half. He had eclipsed his previous career-high scoring output of nine points by halftime, entering the locker room with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting, but with the Raiders trailing 46-35.
Frank heated up in the second half, scoring 24 of his 27 points after the intermission. He netted the Raiders' first nine points coming out of the break and 14 points in the final 5:51 of regulation, but was unable to put a dent into the Mountain Cat lead. He went 9-of-19 from the field and 4-of-7 from three-point territory to go along with nine rebounds and three assists.
Junior
Michael Dunn was the fourth Raider to reach double figures, finishing with 11 points.
Guards Ryan Smith (9-of-16 from the field) and Andrew Shull (5-of-9 from three) added 19 points apiece for the Mountain Cats. Forward Will Kromka posted a double-double, totaling 13 points and 12 boards.
The Raiders return to action Saturday at Bloomsburg. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.
