Boxscore

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Senior guard Michael Evans Jr. scored a team-high 20 points to lead a balanced scoring attack as the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team improved its season record to 9-0 Wednesday afternoon with a deceivingly-close 110-91 win over visiting Ohio University Eastern in non-conference action in Morrow Field House.

The Rock, which never trailed in the game, led the Panthers (9-5) by 37 points (100-63) with six minutes left to play before the guests scored 28 of the final 38 points to set the final margin.

Wednesday's win gave this winter's Rock squad a share of the school record for the best start to a season. The 1963-64 team coached by Hank Baierl also won its first nine games.

The win also extended SRU's regular-season win streak to 17 games, four shy of the school record, and improved second-year head coach Kevin Reynolds' Rock record to 30-8.

The win was SRU's second this season against Ohio University Eastern. The Green and White claimed an 88-61 victory Nov. 15 in their season opener in Morrow Field House.

The Rock scored a season-high number of points Wednesday, but also allowed a season-high.

Evans, who also handed out five assists, was one of six Rock players who finished the game with double-digit scoring totals. Junior guard Jabril Bailey scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds, senior guard Andre Tarver scored 14 points and senior guard Bryen Spriggs added 13 points and nine rebounds.

Junior forward Maron Brown finished with 11 points and six rebounds for SRU, senior guard Cecil Brown scored 11 points and handed out six assists and senior forward Jade Burka grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds to go along with seven points.

Carter Baldwin (seven rebounds) and Jason Shaw (nine rebounds) each scored 28 points to lead Ohio University Eastern's attack.

Ohio University Eastern trailed The Rock by only one point, 23-33, with 12:15 left in the first period before SRU went on a 19-8 run to take a 12-point (42-30) lead with 5:15 left before halftime en route to a 51-42 advantage at the intermission.

The Rock then slammed the door on any Panthers' comeback effort when the hosts went on a 47-18 run in the span of just over 13 minutes to turn a 53-45 game into a 100-63 blowout.

SRU shot a season-best 53% (46-87) from the field and nailed 32% (12 of 38) shots from beyond the 3-point arc to offset a chilly 50% (6-12) efficiency from the foul line.

Ohio University, which canned 30 of 40 free throws to enjoy a 5-to-1 scoring advantage from the foul line, made 35% (24 of 68) of its field goal attempts and 50% (13 of 26) of its long-range shots.

Behind Burka's lead, The Rock enjoyed a 57-38 rebounding advantage. The hosts were on the high end of a 16-14 turnovers comparison.

The Rock will have little time to savor Wednesday's win as it will host Cheyney in a 3 p.m. game Saturday to open the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-mandated four-game "crossover series."

SRU closes out its three-game homestand with a 3 p.m. PSAC "crossover" game Sunday vs. Shippensburg.