Dec. 19, 2006

Final Stats

Slippery Rock, Pa. - The Rock threw a big-time scare into high-flying Kutztown in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference "crossover" action in Morrow Field House, but could not seal the deal.

SRU held an eight-point, 57-49, lead with 7:30 left to play in regulation time before the visiting Golden Bears clawed back to tie the score at 68-68 and send the game into overtime.

Two overtime periods later, Kutztown escaped with a 95-88 victory.

The win was Kutztown's eighth in nine games this winter, while The Rock saw its record drop to 3-7.

Kenny Smith led The Rock attack with a game-high 22 points, while Jamar Scales added 16 points, six rebounds and five assists; Glenn Reepmeyer chipped in 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds and Matt Schaefer had 12 points and five assists.

The Rock will look to bounce back on Wednesday, when it hosts East Stroudsburg in another interdivisional game in Morrow Field House. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.

SRU took a five-point (38-33) lead into the halftime intermission and never trailed in the second 20-minute stanza. Kutztown did, however, tie the score on three occasions before the end of regulation time, the final time scoring on a three-point basket by All-PSAC-East performer Dave Ben with approximately 10 seconds left.

The Rock never led in the first overtime, but knotted the score on four occasions, the final one coming on a Scales layup with :01 on the clock to tie the count at 83-83 and force a second extra period.

The score was tied three times in the second OT period, the final knot being an 88-88 stalemate with 1:30 left to play.

The Rock failed to score a point the rest of the game, though, and had to set for a "close but no cigar" consolation prize.

After hosting East Stroudsburg on Wednesday, The Rock will be idle until Dec. 30, when it will travel to Mercyhurst College in Erie for a 3 p.m. game.