Box Score

BLOOMSBURG—The Huskies rallied to score 17 points in the game's final two minutes, but their late scoring flurry failed to prevent a defeat at the hands of Shippensburg University, as Bloomsburg fell, 74-72, in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division action at the Nelson Field House Wednesday night.

Bloomsburg's shooters started cold, missing their first eight shots from the field; the Raiders capitalized on the opportunity by running up a 13-2 lead. Back-to-back three-pointers by Dontahe Jordan (Williamsport, Williamsport) and Jesse Betar (Altoona, Altoona) kick-started an 11-2 run by the Huskies, who narrowed their deficit to 17-15 just a few minutes later.

Free throws proved to be a considerable factor in the first half, as the Raiders made 7 of 9 from the charity stripe while limiting the Huskies to just one shot from the foul line. Earl Knight (Haddonfield, NJ, LEAP Academy) made Bloomsburg's only free throw of the period, as Shippensburg led 34-29 at the intermission.

After the break, Shippensburg was able to pull away to a 10-point lead half-way through the period. The Raiders consistently responded to BU's baskets and carried a 65-55 lead with just under two minutes to play.

With the game seemingly out of reach, the Huskies drew motivation from the supporters in attendance and played to the very end. Two BU layups and a pair of free throws by Jamar Smack (State College, State College) cut the lead to five at 66-61. Ship sank eight-straight free throws, but a trio of three-pointers from Smack and Lorenzo Christmas (Norristown, Norristown) cut it further to four, 74-70, with five seconds to play.

With Shippensburg in possession of the ball, Bloomsburg forced a dead-ball turnover, and a layup by Jordan made it a one-possession game at 74-72 with two ticks on the clock. Ship's Dane Lauber had a chance to ice the game, but failed to convert on either of his free-throw chances. The Huskies' final chance lay in the hands of Smack, but his time was too short as the horn sounded to cap the win for the Raiders.

Trevon Johnson (Snow Hill, MD, Snow Hill) finished with a game-highs of 18 points, five assists, and three blocks. Smack scored a career-high 15, while Betar added 12, and Knight came in to score a career-high five points. Jordan paced the Huskies with a team-high eight rebounds.

Bloomsburg (5-10, 1-2 PSAC East) travels to face East Stroudsburg University on Saturday, January 22, at 3 p.m., while Shippensburg (6-9, 1-2 PSAC East) returns home to host Mansfield University at the same time.