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PSAC: MASSALEY BEATS CLOCK AS SHIP SINKS KUTZTOWN
An intense rivalry between PSAC East rivals BR-131 Shippensburg and BR-75 Kutztown which saw 12 ties and seven lead changes in front of a crowd of 2,187 inside Kutztown's Keystone Arena came to a dramatic conclusion, courtesy of Abe Massaley’s jumper with 1.5 seconds left to give the Red Raiders the 74-72 win over the PSAC East regular season champions:
Abe called game. AGAIN. pic.twitter.com/uQBiHOs5Ii
— SHIP Sports Info (@ShipURaiders) March 2, 2016
Side note: you can see the dramatic final 1:15 via this Periscope link (which, unfortunately, it doesn’t allow for embedding).
“I don't know, for some reason I just don't feel pressure,” Massaley told ShipRaiders.com after the game. “Any time I shoot, I think it's going in. My guys and (head coach Chris) Fite trust me all the way, so they just put the ball in my hands and let me go.”
Shippensburg will play BR-49 Mercyhurst, an 84-68 winner over BR-162 Clarion, in the PSAC semifinals, which will be played at Hollinger Field House in West Chester, Pa. on Saturday.
BR-74 West Chester flipped an 11 point halftime second half deficit to BR-41 East Stroudsburg into a 10 point lead thanks to a 35-14 run to knock the Warriors out of the tournament with an 83-71 win to earn hosting rights for the PSAC final four. The Golden Rams will face BR-53 Indiana (Pa.), who knocked out BR-113 Pitt-Johnstown 77-66.
Many in attendance (including this reporter) for the past PSAC playoff contest between the Golden Rams and Crimson Hawks inside Hollinger Field House back in the 2012 PSAC semifinals won’t forget one of the most dramatic finishes in PSAC postseason history:
Meanwhile, the Golden Bears will await to see if their bubble bursts as far as NCAA playoff considerations after the stunning home loss to a rising Red Raiders team.