Gallery: (11-19-2025) 2024-25 Men's BB vs. Chestnut Hill
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's basketball team overcame a double-digit deficit in the second half Wednesday night to rally and hold off Chestnut Hill, 67-65, in a non-conference matchup at Heiges Field House.
Shippensburg (2-1) opened the game with an 11-1 run and set the tone for the majority of the first half. It was highlighted by nine first-half minutes from
Denzel Figueroa that resulted in five points, six rebounds (three offensive), three blocks and an assist.
SU's largest lead of the game was 11 points, as the Raiders maintained a 31-20 advantage with 1:57 left before halftime. The Griffins, however, closed the half on a 7-0 run in the final 58 seconds to get within four, 31-27, at the intermission. CHC's spurt was punctuated by a Kamal Lee three-pointer at the horn.
The visitors proceeded to make 10 of their first 14 shots to open the second half, including 5-of-7 from three-point range, to lead 55-45 with 9:20 to go. Chestnut Hill's torrid shooting featured a 15-2 run.
The Raiders hunkered down defensively and chipped away at the deficit. SU got within one point of the lead on four separate occasions before finally breaking through with 1:25 remaining.
Michael Dickson recorded a steal and went the length for a layup, and following another defensive stop, the Raider point guard was fouled and made 1-of-2 at the free-throw line to tie the game at 65-65.
After still another defensive stop,
Markus Frank was fouled on a drive to the hoop and made both free throws to put the Raiders up 67-65. A Griffin turnover with 11 seconds left resulted in a foul that put
Jaydon Smith at the free-throw line, but the front end of a 1-and-1 was no good and gave the visitors one last chance.
SU had a foul to give, which it did with four seconds to go. After a timeout, Lee attempted a game-winning three-pointer that rattled off the rim.
It is the third straight year that the two teams have played a game that came down to the final possession. In 2023, Frank hit a shot at the buzzer that gave SU a 71-69 win in Philadelphia. Last year, Chestnut Hill hit a three-pointer in the final five seconds and survived an equalizing bid by the Raiders to post its own 71-69 victory.
Frank led all players with 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Smith shot 50 percent from the field and contributed 12 points and four rebounds. Dickson finished with 10 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Jackson Boone scored five points and led the Raiders with a career-high nine rebounds.
Ben Rill was 3-for-3 off the bench in the first half.
Timmy Conner added seven points.
Alejandro Redondo Cybak posted a double-double with game highs of 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Griffins. Redondo Cybak was 9-of-13 from the floor; three of his four misses came in the game's final six minutes. Amari Dow scored 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting and had six rebounds.
Both teams totaled 37 rebounds. SU outscored Chestnut Hill in the paint, 46-24, and committed only eight turnovers whereas the Griffins committed 16. CHC was 9-of-24 (38 percent) from three-point range while the Raiders were just 2-of-14 (14 percent).
Shippensburg hosts Wilmington (Del.) at 3 p.m. Saturday at Heiges Field House. The Wildcats posted a 101-99 home win in double overtime Wednesday night over Millersville.
