Gallery: (2-7-2026) 2025-26 Men's Basketball vs. WCU
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's basketball team used a scorching start to knock off Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division front-runners West Chester Saturday afternoon at Heiges Field House, 85-74.
The tale of two halves saw Shippensburg (12-11, 7-9 PSAC East) shoot 61.5 percent from the field (16-of-26) in the first half to lead by as many as 21 points. West Chester (17-6, 11-5) knocked down its first seven shots coming out of halftime to quickly cut the lead down to just five, 50-45, en route to a tight finish.
Jaydon Smith registered his first-career 30-point game, finishing with a career-best 30 points. The sophomore guard went a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point range and converted a career-high 14 free throws in 15 attempts (93.3 percent) – the most made free throws by an SU player since Justin McCarthur set the program's all-time record with 15 (in 15 attempts) on Feb. 24, 2018.
Markus Frank scored 16 first half points on his way to 25 overall in the game. He shot 7-of-9 in the first stanza (77.8 percent) and 10-of-15 overall (66.7 percent). He also pulled down a team-high six boards and added two steals.
The Raiders built up an early advantage thanks to an 11-0 run in the latter half of the opening frame. Back-to-back treys from Smith and
Jackson Boone kick-started that stretch.
The Raiders led by 19 points, 46-27, at halftime, and that margin shrunk to as little as two, 68-66, with 6:51 remaining in regulation.
Shippensburg held off West Chester's second-half charge thanks to 23 made free throws in the second half (more than West Chester had in the entire game), hitting at an 82.6 percent (19-for-23) clip. They matched their season high with 28 made free throws in the contest (28-for-35, 80 percent).
Both teams were in the double bonus with eight minutes left on the clock. West Chester went 9-of-17 from the stripe (52.9 percent) after halftime.
Boone joined Smith and Frank in double figures with 10 points. The redshirt sophomore forward went 2-for-3 from three-point territory and pulled down five caroms.
The Raiders energy on the glass helped them out-rebound one of the top rebounding teams in the nation, 31-to-25. West Chester came into Saturday's game ranked No. 1 in the PSAC (3rd nationally) in rebound margin at +10.5.
The victory marked SU's second win this season over a team occupying first place in the PSAC East, previously netting an 82-80 win over East Stroudsburg back on Jan. 17.
Anthony McCall paced four Golden Rams in double figures with 18 points.
The Raiders are back in action Wednesday at Kutztown for a 7:30 p.m. tip.
