Jan. 4, 2005

Final Stats

Frigid free throw shooting spelled defeat for The Rock as hosting Bloomsburg (3-8) handed SRU its 11th defeat in as many games this winter.

The Rock, which entered the game as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference leader and No. 3 team in the nation in free throw shooting with an 80 percent efficiency, made only 55 percent (12 of 22) of its charity tosses Tuesday night and dropped a 63-58 decision in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference "crossover" action.

SRU will now seek to record the elusive first victory when it entertains Cheyney (1-7) in a 3 p.m. PSAC "crossover" game Saturday in Morrow Field House.

SRU will then host Millersville (6-1) in another interdivisional game at 3 p.m. on Sunday before opening PSAC-Western Division action next Wednesday, Jan. 12, at California U. of Pa.

Early on Tuesday, it appeared The Rock was well on its way to snapping its losing skid.

SRU scored the first 13 points of the game and had an 18-point, 25-7, lead with seven minutes left in the first half.

Bloomsburg trimmed the deficit to only four, 31-27, at the 1:45 mark in the opening stanza.

The Rock had a 34-28 halftime advantage before the hosts tied the score at 37-37 five minutes into the final half of action. Bloomsburg took its first lead of the game, 48-47, with eight minutes left to play to set the stage for a frenetic finish.

The hosts led by seven points, 59-52, with 4:30 left to play before The Rock scored four unanswered points to trim the deficit to three, 59-56, with 2:30 left to play.

The Rock was unable to sustain the rally, though, and, for the fourth time this winter, failed to get a win after holding a halftime advantage.

Ben Daniels led The Rock in scoring with 15 points in a substitute role, while Bill Johnson added 14 points, Mason Glick eight points, Glenn Reepmeyer seven points and nine rebounds and Ryan Yarosik five points and seven rebounds.

Notes: Bill Johnson entered the game ranked second in the PSAC in both free throw shooting (.895) and steals (2.8 per game), seventh in scoring (16.5 points per game) and eighth in 3-point field goals made per game (2.3) ... Mason Glick was fourth in the conference in free throw shooting (.871) ... Glenn Reepmeyer ranked fifth in the conference in rebounding (9.0 per game), sixth in free throw shooting (.848) and 10th in scoring (15.0 ppg).