Box Score (HTML)

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – A 35-15 run as part of a thunderous rally by the Bloomsburg University men's basketball team just ran out of time in a 68-65 setback at Shippensburg on Saturday afternoon inside Heiges Field House.

Shippensburg (11-8, 7-8 PSAC) appeared on its way to an easy victory after leading 41-19 at halftime and still holding a 20-point advantage (53-33) with 7:40 to play.

The Huskies (9-11, 5-11) refused to make things easy on the Raiders, however.

The final minutes saw Bloomsburg race nearly all the way back, as only time held the Huskies from a remarkable comeback.

Bloomsburg began the rally modestly, sinking four straight free throws from Jon Riles (Philadelphia/Academy of the New Church) and Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) for a 53-39 score.

Baskets from Shippensburg's Dylan Edgar and A.J. Maun gave the Raiders a seemingly comfortable 57-39 lead with 5:39 to play, but the Huskies then began to roar back.

A jumper from Riles and pair of free throws from Darius Robinson-Wallace (Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Charter) started the uprising, and before long the Huskies were within single digits.

A steal from Charles Haigler (Charles Town, WV/Hargrave Military Academy) and a quick 3-pointer from Mortellite made it 60-51 and still 2:52 to go.

Shippensburg momentarily put the breaks on the rally and stretched its lead back to double digits at 67-55 following free throws from Maun with 1:36 remaining. 

Bloomsburg kept battling, however.

Back-to-back jumpers from Mortellite cut the lead to just 68-63 with 51 seconds to go and then another defensive stop and a Shippensburg foul sent Mortellite to the line. The PSAC's leader in free throw percentage sank both, putting the Huskies within one possession at 68-65 and still 27 seconds remaining.

Two missed free throws from Shippensburg gave the Huskies an opportunity to tie in the final seconds. A missed 3-point attempt to tie resulted in a long rebound and Bloomsburg came away with the loose ball.

Attempting to put up one final shot for the tie, Riles stepped out of bounds with one second to go as time ran out on the Huskies.

Mortellite led the Huskies with 17 points and three steals, Riles netted 13 points with four assists and Moustapha Noumbissi (Upper Darby/Delaware County Christian School) posted 10 points and four steals.

Jay Hardy powered Shippensburg with 16 points and Dustin Sleva had 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Bloomsburg has the next week off and will next host division-leading East Stroudsburg on Saturday, Feb. 7 at Nelson Field House.

GAME NOTES: The Huskies and Raiders split the season series after Bloomsburg won the first game, 76-73, at home in November … Alssene Saintilus (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) had a string of 10 straight games with double-figure points including four consecutive double-doubles snapped, finishing with eight points and seven rebounds Saturday … Robinson-Wallace had a career high six rebounds in 12 minutes … Bloomsburg forced Shippensburg into 21 turnovers.