SHIPPENSBURG — The Shippensburg University Men’s Basketball team got a career night from senior Carlos Carter (Indiana/Indiana) as it overwhelmed previously unbeaten Slippery Rock for a statement win Saturday at Heiges Field House, 75-59.
Carter netted a career-high 33 points on a spectacular 13-of-18 night from the floor, including 23 points after halftime, to help the Raiders (4-3, 2-0) pull away from a tough Slippery Rock team in the second half.
The Rock (6-1, 1-1 PSAC) never led in the contest, despite outscoring its opponents by an average of 17.4 points heading into the weekend. They cut the margin to as little as two points late in the first half on the strength of leading scorers Amante Britt (16 points) and Khalid Gates (15 points).
Shippensburg got off to a fast start, scoring nine straight points following the opening tip. Redshirt senior Rashon Johnson (Philadelphia/Simon Gratz (Highland C.C.)) capped the run with a three-point play, and Carter knocked down the first of his five threes on the night to put the Raiders up 17-4, with just five minutes gone in the contest.
The Rock avoided the early knockout blow by heating up from the outside, and back-to-back scores from Lashon Lindsey and Gates cut the Ship lead down to just two, 30-28, with 2:20 remaining in the opening half.
It was Carter who came through with a big bucket to help the Raiders maintain the lead, sinking a timely three on their next possession to stretch the margin back to five, and graduate Luke Nedrow (Pittsburgh/Central Catholic (Marist)) followed with a layup that put the hosts ahead by seven at intermission, 35-28.
In the second half, Carter took center stage. He seemingly could not miss, converting a gaudy 9-of-11 from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.
Carter scored 10 straight points for the Raiders early in the second half, including several tough shots, to stretch the lead to double figures. He later put the exclamation point on his night with a breakaway slam that put the hosts up 19 points, 67-48, with 7:38 remaining.
Johnson then chipped in with a pair of baskets that gave the hosts their largest lead at 22 points.
Johnson finished with 16 points and seven boards. Graduate Dom Sleva (McKees Rocks/Montour) added 14 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Nedrow was the fourth Raider to reach double digits, recording 10 points and eight boards.
Carter’s previous career high had been 26 points, set in Nov. 2021 against Wilmington (Del.).
The Rock entered the weekend ranked second in the conference in rebounding margin at plus 6.6, but the Raiders managed to hold the visitors to one shot on most trips, winning the rebounding battle 23-to-20.
Shippensburg returns to action with a home date Tuesday, Dec. 13 against nationally ranked Fairmont State. Tip-off at Heiges Field House is set for 7 p.m.
