Box Score HTML Boxscore BLOOMSBURG – The Bloomsburg University men's basketball team could not overcome a strong first half from Shippensburg University as it dropped a 79-58 decision Wednesday night in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division matchup at Nelson Field House.
 
The Huskies (4-10, 2-8 PSAC) finished with three players in double figures led by sophomore guard Zach Sheetz (Landisville/Hempfield).  He made four three-pointers for 12 points while grabbing three rebounds.
 
Junior Nasir Jones (Philadelphia/Franklin Learning Center) tied a previous career-high of 11 points he set against Slippery Rock earlier this season.  He shot 5-for-8 from the field including a three-pointer.  Fellow junior Lorenzo Christmas (Norristown/Norristown) rounded out the trio of double figure scorers with 10 points and a pair of three-pointers.
 
Jones' outing helped lead a Bloomsburg bench that scored 20 points.  The BU bench has now topped the 20-point mark in each of its last four games.
 
The Raiders (3-11, 1-9) snapped their 10-game skid and were determined to go inside the paint offensively.  Led by Reggie Charles' 11-for-12 performance at the free throw line and 17 total points, Shippensburg shot 35-for-46 at the charity strip for nearly half of its points.  It is the most free throw attempts by a Bloomsburg opponent this season.
 
The opening five minutes were back-and-forth with Shippensburg leading by one at the 15:31 mark.  The Raiders then went on a 13-2 run to take a 12-point, 23-11 lead with 11:30 to play in the opening half.  The run stretched out to 31-10 as Shippensburg led 41-19 at the 3:15 mark.  SU took a 48-24 lead into the locker room.
 
Bloomsburg shot 34.8 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes, but went against a Shippensburg team that worked for effective looks at the basket as it shot 57.7 percent.  12 of Bloomsburg's 17 turnovers came in the first half, which Shippensburg turned into 20 points.
 
The hole was simply too big for Bloomsburg to mount a comeback.  It limited Shippensburg to 35.3 percent shooting to outscore the Raiders 34-31 in the second half.
 
The Huskies put together a rally and some tough defensive possessions midway through the second half.  After Shippensburg built its largest lead of the game at 28, 70-42, with 7:49 to play, Bloomsburg went on a 12-2 run behind eight points from Christmas and four from Jones to bring the game to 18 at 72-54.  However, it was as close as the Huskies would get.
 
Dylan Edgar was a focal point in the Shippensburg offense as the 6-10 junior continued to call for the ball on the block.  He scored 14 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds as Shippensburg out-rebounded Bloomsburg, 33-24.  Also scoring in double figures for the Raiders were Joe Lococo (14), Sam Pygatt (12), and Tony Ellis (11).  Ellis also grabbed eight rebounds.
 
Bloomsburg entered the game leading the PSAC in three-pointers per game, and improved their average Wednesday night with eight.  It tied for the second-most of the season and most since the Huskies made nine in a win over Penn State Hazleton.
 
Sophomore Jimel Calliste (Brooklyn, NY/Thomas Jefferson Campus) made his Bloomsburg debut after joining the team earlier this week and dished out a game-high six assists in 24 minutes off the bench.
 
Bloomsburg returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 19 as it travels to Cheyney University for a PSAC East matchup.  Game time is set for 3 p.m.