The Shippensburg University men’s basketball team had a great 2015-16 season. With a final record of 20-9, the Raiders tied for the second-most wins in school history. SU also made it as far as semi-finals in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament, which was its first appearance in the semi-final competition since the 2005-06 season.
SU owes a lot of its 2015-16 season success to forward Dustin Sleva. The Pittsburgh native averaged 15.8 points and 11 rebounds per game in his second season as a Raider.
Sleva shot an even 50 percent from the field and led the Raiders with 47 three-pointers. His total of 16 double-doubles leads the PSAC and ranks him eighth in the country.
Sleva’s accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. At the beginning of March, Sleva was named to the All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division First Team. Along with state recognition, Sleva has been recognized at the national level with a selection to the 2015-16 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II All-District Second Team.
Sleva said of the NABC selection, “It’s a great accomplishment that wouldn’t be possible without the help of my coaches and teammates.”
SU men’s basketball is raising the bar every season and Sleva has every intention of taking part in the improvement and success of the team for the next two years.
“One of my personal goals is to lead the next batch of freshmen into our team and our team culture,” Sleva said.
After making its first strong presence in the PSAC Tournament since 2006, SU intends to once again return to the tournament next season. Sleva expressed the team’s desire for a PSAC victory when he said, “Our team goal is to win the PSAC championship and get into the tournament.”
For Sleva, being a member of the SU men’s basketball team is not about the victories or the stardom of being an exceptional athlete. “The best part of playing basketball at Shippensburg University is the support of the community. The students and town really get behind us,” Sleva said.
You can expect to see Sleva back on the court for the 2016-17 season, ready to lead the Red Raiders to their desired PSAC victory.
The Slate welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic. Read our full guidelines here.