Dec. 29, 2005

Box Score

Ashland, Ohio - Matt Hale pumped in a game-high 27 points Thursday night, but the effort went for naught as The Rock dropped a 92-88 overtime decision to Malone (Ohio) College in the consolation game of the Holiday Inn Express Classic hosted by Ashland University.

The loss was the ninth straight for The Rock (1-10).

Malone, an NAIA school located in Canton, improved its record to 5-10.

The Rock had four players score in double figures one night after having five double-digit scorers in an 83-80 loss to Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.).

Jamar Scales scored 15 points and five rebounds vs. Malone, Erroll Robinson added 13 points and Brandon Thompson chipped in 12 points and five rebounds.

Dejan Jancic and Tim Dykgraaf shared team-high rebounding honors with seven each, while Joseph Vines grabbed six. Matt Schaefer handed out a team-best six assists.

The Rock, after being up by a 44-35 margin with just over a minute left, held a 46-41 lead at halftime.

SRU remained in the lead for the first 17-plus minutes before Malone tied the score at 72-72 with 2:35 left in regulation time.

The score was tied at 78-78 at the end of regulation, thanks to a pair of free throws by Hale with 15 seconds left.

Malone scored the first five points in overtime and never trailed thereafter.

SRU is idle until Jan. 7, when it will travel to Cheyney for a 3 p.m. Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference "crossover" game.

The Rock will go to Millersville the following day for another PSAC interdivisional contest.

The Rock's next home game will be Jan. 11, when it will host California U. of Pa. in the opening game of the PSAC-Western Division schedule.

Notes: The Rock outscored Malone by a 44-22 margin in the paint ... Thursday's game was The Rock's second overtime affair of the season. SRU lost a 72-68 OT decision to Ohio Valley University in the season opener ... The loss to Malone was The Rock's fourth this season by a margin of four or less points and sixth by eight or less points.