SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's basketball team got double-doubles Monday from senior Dustin Sleva and sophomore John Castello along with 19 points from senior Justin McCarthur as the Raiders dispatched Millersville, 94-67, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships First Round matchup from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (22-6) entered the game as the top free-throw shooting team in the nation (79.7 percent) and continued that trend Monday night, making 23-of-25 (92 percent) from the line. The Raiders shot 44 percent from three-point range (11-of-25), totaled 20 assists and posted a +10 rebounding margin.
 
SU used a pair of runs early in each half to help dictate play. Three minutes in, the Raiders unleashed a 19-3 run to take a 28-8 lead. Millersville (10-19) got within seven points with 4:32 left in the half with a 19-7 run of its own; Shippensburg eventually took a 51-42 lead into halftime.
 
Coming out of the intermission, the home cagers unfurled a 22-8 run – including a 15-2 stretch – to take a 73-50 lead with 10:54 remaining. After allowing the Marauders to shoot 56 percent from the field in the first half (including 7-of-12 from three-point range), SU's defense limited the visitors to 37 percent shooting in the second half – including 0-of-6 from three-point range.
 
Sleva hit the 20-point mark by halftime, including a 10-of-10 performance at the free-throw line. He finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds and three assists – achieving his 19th double-double of the season and the 55th of his career. Sleva is now 35 points shy of reaching 2,000 career points.
 
Castello posted his third straight double-double and ninth of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. He was 6-of-8 from the field, marking his 10th straight game shooting 50 percent or better, and made all three of his free-throw attempts.
 
McCarthur scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half, totaled six assists and had two steals. He shot 4-of-7 from three-point range in the second half after not attempting a three in the first half. It is his 25th game in double figures this season.
 
Senior Clay Conner had seven points, six assists and just one turnover. It is the 16th time this season he has finished a game with one turnover or less. Junior Antonio Kellem scored 11 points, making 3-of-7 from three-point range, to go along with four rebounds.
 
Off the bench, sophomore Na'Quan Council had seven points, three rebounds and three assists. Freshman Jake Biss had five points, while junior Manny Span added four points.
 
The visitors got 19 points from James Sullivan – 17 of which came in the first half. He was 5-of-7 from three-point range in the first half. Jordan Greene and Conrad Chambers each scored 12 for the Marauders.
 
Shippensburg advances to face West Chester at 7:30 p.m. in a PSAC Quarterfinal from Hollinger Field House. The Golden Rams will be hosting a doubleheader Wednesday, beginning with a women's game against Kutztown at 5:30 p.m.