SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Sophomore guard Marcus Banks (Clinton, Md./Riverdale Baptist) scored a game-high 18 points to lead Shepherd University (5-3, 3-0 PSAC) to a 68-57 win over Indiana (Pa.) (5-4, 2-1 PSAC) in PSAC men's basketball action at the Butcher Center on Friday.

Banks connected on 6-of-10 field goals with a 1-of-2 effort from beyond the arc. He added five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Sophomore forward Cole Paar (Mount Airy, Md./Glenelg Country School/Towson) added 10 points, while sophomore guard Michael Cooper (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) tossed in nine. Graduate student forward Chase Paar (Mount Airy, Md./Glenelg Country School/Towson) was a point shy of a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.

Kymani Merraro had 17 points to lead IUP. Damir Brooks added a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Shepherd had a 38-27 lead at halftime.

Shepherd built an 18-point lead in the second half after Cole Paar hit a jumper to give the Rams a 52-34 advantage with 13:34 left.

IUP used a 15-0 run to rally to within three points at 52-49 after a free throw by Christian Moore with 7:16 remaining but would get no closer.

Shepherd connected on 50 percent (23-46) of its field goals with a 38.1 percent (8-21) performance from three-point range. The Rams drained 77.8 percent (14-18) of their free throws.

Indiana (Pa.) shot 36.8 percent (21-57) from the floor with a 23.5 percent (4-17) effort from beyond the arc. The Crimson Hawks hit 84.6 percent (11-13) from the foul line.

Each team had 31 rebounds. The Rams forced 10 turnovers and committed 12.

The Rams return to action on Saturday when they host Clarion for a 3 p.m. contest.