By Matt Kellam

Jeremy Thomas scored 13 of his 14 points in the third quarter to help Shippensburg break open a close game and defeat rival Big Spring, 65-50, in the Mid-Penn Colonial opener for both teams Tuesday night.

The Greyhounds, (2-1, 1-0MPC) never trailed the Bulldogs and led at the end of the first quarter, 16-7.

Big Spring freshman Aidan Sallie scored 10 of his team high 18 points in the second quarter to bring the Bulldogs back to within 6, 29-23, at halftime.  The Bulldogs hit on 4-3 pointers in the quarter and a total of nine for the game.

The Bulldogs closed to within 2, 30-28 to start the second half, but Thomas hit his only 3 of the game off an inbound play to push the lead back to five, 33-28.  Big Spring hung on until the two-minute mark of the third quarter.

With Shippensburg up 41-35, Thomas completed a three-point play off a fast break and the Greyhounds outscored the Bulldogs, 12-0 to end the third quarter up 53-35. Jayden Statum added five of his game high 21 points in the third.

Head coach Ray Staver said, “That was the best run we’ve had all season by far, and that was huge in this game.”

Anthony Smith had a double-double with 12 points and 17 rebounds before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter.

Shippensburg returns to action Friday night when they travel to Boiling Springs to face the Bubblers.

Shippensburg 65, Big Spring 50
Big Spring
Matthew Ward 5 2-2 14, Jessie Burnhisel 1 0-0 3, Jake Knouse 2 2-7 7, Aidan Sallie 7 0-0 20, Seth Griffie 1 0-0 2, Brexton Heckendorn 0 1-2 1. Totals: 19 5-12 60.
Shippensburg
Jayden Statum 7 5-6 21, Traevon Kater 1 0-0 3, Graison Michaljuk 4 1-1 9, Anthony Smith 4 4-6 12, Jeremy Thomas 5 3-7 14, Erby Weller 1 0-0 2, Keegan Kissinger 2 0-0 4. Totals: 24 13-20 65.
Big Spring                   7      16      12      15      50
Shippensburg            16    13      24      12      65
Three point shots: Big Spring 9 (Sallie 4, Ward 2, Griffie, Burnhisel, Knouse 1) Shippensburg 4 (Statum 2, Kater, Thomas 1)