INDIANA, Pa. – The No. 13 Shippensburg men's basketball team surrendered a 20-point second half lead Saturday, but battled brilliantly to down No. 2 IUP, 90-87, in overtime to advance to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship Game at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex.
 
Saturday's win was the school record 25th for SU (25-3) as it is headed to the PSAC Final for the first time since 2006. A win Sunday would clinch SU's second PSAC title ever, and first since 1991.
 
"It says a lot about where we're at," Shippensburg head coach Chris Fite said. "We've got tough young men that play together and are up for any challenge."
 
The combination of senior Abe Massaley and junior Dustin Sleva carried the Raiders Saturday. Massaley posted his fourth career double-double with 23 points and 10 assists. His two free throws with 25 seconds remaining in overtime proved to be the decisive points. Massaley also was vital in slowing down All-PSAC West guard Dante Lombardi, who was limited to eight points on 2-of-18 shooting.
 
"Abe is up for the challenge any night," Fite said. "Abe and I, our relationship and what we've been through is different than any of the other guys on the team. Coming from 3-23 (SU's record in 2013-14), him being the first guy to sign up for our program and to kind of put his faith in me, and for us to kind of come full circle and being on the verge of competing for a championship. And it's all due to his leadership and his influence."
 
Sleva, meanwhile, tied his career-high with 33 points on 13-of-21 shooting to go along with 13 rebounds. He's scored at least 24 points in eight of SU's last nine games. Over that span he's averaging 25.6 points per game.
 
Junior Justin McCarthur made all four of his three-point attempts on his way to 15 points. Sophomore Antonio Kellem scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Freshman John Castello had the remaining seven points for SU, as all 90 of the Raiders' points were scored by their starters.
 
SU encountered roughly every situation imaginable down the stretch of a wild game that included an incredible IUP comeback. The Raiders, which led 34-26 at halftime, opened the second half on a 20-8 run to stretch their lead to the largest of the day at 54-34. However, the Crimson Hawks responded with a press that frustrated SU. The Raiders committed 21 turnovers – their most in the 2017 calendar year – which allowed IUP to slowly chip away at the margin, mirroring the two teams' first meeting this season – a game that SU won by seven, but completely lost a 19-point lead in the second half.
 
Following two Masssaley free throws with 1:07 remaining in regulation, the Raiders held a 77-68 lead. However, a combination of SU turnovers and an IUP three-pointer plus foul shots took SU's lead down to two with 18.1 seconds remaining. SU held possession, but was unable to move the ball across midcourt before the referees whistled SU for 10 seconds in the backcourt with 8.8 seconds left.
 
On the ensuing possession IUP lost the ball out of bounds, giving it back to the Raiders with a two-point lead and 2.6 seconds remaining. However, SU then turned it over by running the baseline trying to inbound the ball after a turnover and not a made shot. IUP's Jacobo Diaz (22 points) was fouled on the inbound and made both free throws to send the game to overtime.
 
SU scored the first four points of overtime, but IUP responded with five straight points to take its first lead since the 9:16 mark of the first half. The Raiders turned to Sleva, who was fouled while making a driving layup to take the lead at the 2:33 mark of extra time. Less than a minute later it was Sleva again, this time twisting underneath the hoop for an incredible bucket to put SU up four with 1:39 to go.

But once again, IUP had an answer as the Crimson Hawks made two free throws, forced an SU turnover and tipped in a missed shot to tie the game at 87-87 with 54 seconds remaining. Massaley's two free throws on the ensuing possession were the game-winners as the Raider senior then forced a steal of Lombardi at the other end, leading to a trip to the free throw line by McCarthur.
 
McCarthur made 1-of-2 free throws, and SU forced an IUP miss at the other end. The Raiders secured the rebound and began to celebrate thinking the game was over. However, a traveling violation was called on SU for carrying the basketball with 0.3 remaining. The Crimson Hawks missed a desperation three at the horn, giving SU a victory and an incredible sigh of relief.
 
"It's unbelievable," Fite said. "It was a collection of things – you couldn't have scripted it as far as the things that went against us down the stretch. For our guys to pick themselves up after that and be able to gut out a win – it just shows the character of this team. I couldn't be more proud of them."
 
For the first time in conference history, both semifinal games went to overtime as No. 5 Kutztown erased a late deficit to down Gannon in five extra minutes. The Raiders and Golden Bears meet for a third time this season, having split the first two meetings this season. Game time is set for 3 p.m. from the KCAC at IUP.