Gallery: (12-17-2025) 2025-26 MBB at California (Pa.)
The Shippensburg University men's basketball team could not slow down host California (Pa.) in the second half on Tuesday, dropping its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opener by a 95-76 score at the Convocation Center.
Shippensburg (5-3, 0-1 PSAC) and California (5-4, 2-0) both started out hot from the field – with the Raiders making 9-of-14 (64.3 percent) at the outset and the Vulcans 10-of-16 (62.5 percent) – a total that included a 9-of-10 proficiency from two-point range.
SU led by as many as seven points early on and held a 30-28 lead at the 7:38 mark of the opening half before Cal popped an 11-2 run to lead by seven. The Raiders trailed by just five points at halftime, 45-40.
The Vulcans used a 12-3 run early in the second half to expand their lead to double digits. California shot 61 percent (17-of-28) from the field in the final 20 minutes while holding Shippensburg to a 39-percent rate in the same span.
Michael Dickson had a torrid start, going 5-of-5 from the field (including 3-of-3 from three-point range) in the game's first 10 minutes. Dickson finished with a team-high 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting and 3-fo-3 at the free-throw line. He tied
Markus Frank for the team-high in rebounds with six and handed out a team-high four assists.
Frank was limited to 14 points and six rebounds.
Jaydon Smith produced 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting.
Sebastian Edwards provided a spark off the bench in the second half, reaching double figures for the first time with a career-high 10 points. He was 2-of-3 from three-point range and had a pair of steals.
Timmy Conner hit three three-pointers in the first half, while
Trey Martin contributed seven points in the second half.
Cal finished the game shooting 57 percent from the field, matching Frostburg State's output in the season opener for the highest rate by an opponent against the Raiders this season.
Bryson Lucas led all players with 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting; he added seven rebounds and five assists. Antoine Arnett added 21 points, five rebounds and a game-high six assists.
Shippensburg hosts Slippery Rock at 3 p.m. Saturday in a PSAC crossover clash at Heiges Field House.
