Redshirt-junior Dom Sleva scored 21 points as the Raiders dropped a 80-67 decision to Mercyhurst.
The Shippensburg University men’s basketball team could not slow No. 3 Mercyhurst Friday night, falling to the Lakers in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) mandated crossover at Heiges Field House.
READ: SU Men’s basketball: Vulcans defeat Shippensburg Raiders
How it happened
Shippensburg (2-3, 0-1 PSAC) started out strong and built a nine-point lead in the first six minutes of the game. Mercyhurst (6-0, 1-0) chipped away at its deficit throughout the first half; and senior guard Miykah McIntosh drained a shot at the first-half buzzer from just inside of half court to give the Lakers a five-point halftime advantage.
The visitors used an 8-0 run seven minutes into the second half to gain a double-digit lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way.
Redshirt-junior Dom Sleva (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) led the Raiders with 21 points, finishing one short of his career high. Sleva was 6-of-9 from the field and 8-of-11 at the free-throw line and added eight rebounds.
Four Raiders finished in double figures. Junior Luke Nedrow (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic (Marist)) had 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Redshirt-sophomore Rashon Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Simon Gratz (Highland C.C.)) had 11 points, and off the bench, freshman Michael Dunn (Washington, Pa./Trinity) contributed a career-high 10 points that included a 5-of-5 performance at the free-throw line.
Mercyhurst had five players in double figures as Aidan Reichert, Cameron Gross, McIntosh, Steve Cannady and Jeff Planutis shared the scoring load. Michael Bradley distributed a game-high five assists and scored eight points of his own.
The Lakers shot 48%, attempted 19 more field goals than Shippensburg (67-48) and forced 22 Raider turnovers. Entering Friday, SU had committed just 40 turnovers on the season through four games.
The 147 combined points marked the second-most points in a game in the series matchup dating back the last 10 years.
Shippensburg hosted Gannon Saturday at Heiges Field House.
