(SHIPPENSBURG, Pa.) -  The Wilson men's basketball team got an early-season test against NCAA Division II competition as it traveled up Route 11 to take on Shippensburg on Monday evening. The Phoenix showed flashes of offensive potential and valuable depth against a Raider squad that was opening their 2026-27 regular season.

Shippensburg returned its top three scorers and a pair of All-PSAC selections from last season, but that didn't stop the Phoenix from running with the Raiders in the first half. The Raiders' depth eventually caught up with the Blue and White as they took complete control of the game in the second half.

The Basics
Score: Wilson 70, Shippensburg 100
Venue: Heiges Field House
Records: Wilson 0-1, 0-0 UE; Shippensburg 1-0, 0-0 PSAC

How It Happened

• Shippensburg looked poised to set the tone early as it opened with a 16-7 lead. However, Wilson showed grit and flipped the script with an 18-8 run of its own to take the lead. Long range shots helped the Blue and White as Jordan Shifler (Jr., Cascade, Md. / GVVCS Broadfording), Daniel Daughtry (So., Brooklyn, N.Y. / Eagle Academy Bronx / Valley Forge), Juancarlos Canales (FY, Tampa, Fla. / Armwood), and Tobias Reese (Jr., Mansfield, Texas / St. Elizabeth) all drained 3-pointers in the opening 10 minutes. Reese's triple closed the gap to 22-21. Travis Blake Jr. (So., Baltimore, Md. / North County) tied the game at 23-all on a layup, and a pair of Shifler free throws gave Wilson a 25-24 lead with 7:31 left in the opening half.
• The Raiders didn't take much time to answer and responded with an 8-0 run largely in thanks to transition chances on the fast break. Wilson stayed within two possessions as late as 34-30 after a Haneef Davis (FY, Philadelphia, Pa. / Christoper Dock / Bucks CC) layup before the Raiders extended their lead to double-digits by the break. After halftime, Shippensburg started the second half on a 14-0 run and the Phoenix were unable to recover.

Inside The Numbers

• Daughtry had a fantastic game where he led the Phoenix with 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
• Davis was right behind him with a baker's dozen.
• Wilson took care of the ball better with 14 turnovers as opposed to 18 from the Raiders, but the hosts shot the lights out by making 66.7% (42-of-63) from the field in the game. Their percentage was even higher in the second half where they made 24-for-31 for 77.42%.
• Wilson's bench outscored the Raiders 54-28.

Up Next
The Phoenix are back in action Tuesday evening as they head to Reading to battle Alvernia. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.