SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Senior guard Derek McKnight (Teaneck, N.J./Gaston (N.C.) Day School/Louisburg CC) scored 23 points, senior forward Winston Burgess (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) tossed in 22, while junior guard Thomas Lang (New Market, Md./Linganore) added 21 to lead  Shepherd University (1-0) to an 81-73 win over Millersville (0-1) in first day action of the Clarion Hotel Conference Challenge in men's basketball action at the Butcher Center on Friday night. The win gave Shepherd head coach Justin Namolik his 150th career victory.

McKnight connected on 7-of-13 field goals with a 2-of-4 effort from three-point range. He was 7-of-7 from the charity stripe.  Burgess was 7-of-8 from the floor with an 8-of-13 effort from the foul line. Lang connected on 6-of-14 shots with a 2-of-7 effort from three point range. He drained 7-of-9 free throws. Burgess posted a double-double as he grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

Former Ram Marcus Adkison led the Marauders with 23 points and four assists. James Sullivan added 15 points, while Caden Najdawi tossed in 11.

Shepherd connected on 47.2 percent (25-53) from the floor with a 28.6 percent (6-21) performance from beyond the arc for the game. The Rams hit on 73.5 percent (25-34) of their free throws.

Millersville shot 47.4 percent (27-57) from the floor with a 45 percent effort (9-20) from three-point range. The Marauders shot 52.6 percent (10-19) from the charity stripe.

Shepherd had a 40-28 edge in rebounding. The Rams forced 12 turnovers and committed 14.

The Rams return to action on Saturday when they host Gannon at 6 p.m. in final day action of the Clarion Hotel Conference Challenge.