EAST STROUDSBURG – The East Stroudsburg University men's basketball was clipped by Shippensburg, 71-66, on Saturday as the Raiders rallied in the second half and won it late at Koehler Fieldhouse.

ESU (8-6, 4-5 PSAC) was led by Troy Jones, who finished with a career-high 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field and a 6-of-6 mark at the line, while also adding four assists. Justin Paz notched 15 points for his second straight double-digit scoring performance, and Mike Millsip added 14 points and six rebounds.  

For Shippensburg (12-3, 8-1), Jake Biss knocked down four three-pointers and recorded a game-high 23 points, while John Castello registered a double-double with 10 points and 13 boards.

The Warriors shot 60-percent from the field in the opening half of play as they built a 38-30 advantage over the Raiders. ESU extended its lead to 12 points, 47-35, in the early minutes of the second half before Shippensburg rattled off 10 straight to cut the deficit down to just a pair at the midway mark of the frame.

ESU remained in front until the 7:00 mark as a pair of free throws from Carlos Carter gave Shippensburg its first lead of the contest, 54-53.

The teams battled back and forth in the ensuing minutes as the lead changed four times over the next three and a half minutes of play. With ESU trailing by four with 2:35 on the clock, Jones knocked down a big three-pointer to make it a one-point game. Jones then got to the line on the team's next possession and hit a pair of free throws to give ESU the lead back, 66-65, with 1:50 remaining.

After a timeout by Shippensburg, Dom Sleva was fouled with 1:27 left and converted 1-of-2 from the charity stripe to tie things up at 66-all.

Paz wasn't able to convert a jumper for the Warriors next time down the court, and the loose ball went out of bounds and back to the Raiders, who then called timeout with 0:50 on the clock. Coming out of the stoppage, Castello found Biss at the wing, and Biss hit a clutch three-pointer with 36 seconds remaining to put the Raiders on top, 69-66.

The Warriors had a pair of chances at the game-tying three next time down the court, but attempts by Millsip and Kitt Najee Walls were both off the mark. Lamar Talley came down with the defensive board following the second miss and was fouled by Jones. Talley made 1-of-2 to push the Shippensburg advantage to 70-66 with 16 seconds left.

Jones tried to get a quick bucket in the paint for ESU to cut it back to a one-possession game but wasn't able to convert, as Daylon Carter secured the rebound for Shippensburg. He hit 1-of-2 at the line to ice the 71-66 victory for the Raiders.

The Warriors head to Shepherd for a tilt on Wednesday, January 15 at 7:30 p.m.