Boxscore

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Senior forward Devin Taylor scored a game-high 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds Sunday afternoon to lead Slippery Rock University to an 80-68 victory over visiting Kutztown University in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference interdivisional men's basketball action in Morrow Field House.

The Rock led almost the entire game en route to its fourth win in six games this winter and second in four PSAC contests.

Kutztown lost for the second time in two days and saw its season records fall to 3-4 overall, 1-3 against conference opponents.

Taylor, who matched his career-best scoring effort recorded Jan. 26 vs. California (Pa.) and came up one rebound shy of his fourth “double-double” performance of the season, was one of three Rock players who finished the game with double-digit scoring totals.

Sophomore Tabari Perry scored 14 points and matched Taylor's rebounding total, while junior Aubin Reeves had 12 points. Junior John Bayardelle chipped in eight points, seven rebounds and a game-high six assists.

Devon McBride led Kutztown with 25 points, Nate Edwards added 21 points and Eric Brennan finished with a 12-point, 12-rebound “double-double.”

Adding to the impressiveness of The Rock win were the fact Kutztown was the preseason favorite to win this year's PSAC-Eastern Division championship and SRU was outscored in Sunday's game from the foul line by a 26-7 margin.

SRU was whistled for 23 fouls compared to 14 against Kutztown. That resulted in the Golden Bears having a 30-14 advantage in free throw opportunities.

The Rock made a red-hot 55% (34-62) of their field-goal attempts, hit five of 15 shots from 3-point range and were 7-of-14 from the foul line.

Kutztown, meanwhile, made 32% (19-60) of its action shots, including a 19% (4-21) effort from long range, and sank 26 of 30 (87%) free throws.

Behind the lead of Perry and Taylor, The Rock enjoyed a 41-33 rebounding advantage, which helped the hosts overcome a 12-9 turnover disadvantage.

The Rock scored the first four points of the game and held the lead for the first seven minutes of the game until Kutztown knotted the score at 14-14.

The guests took their only lead of the game, 20-19, on a jumper by Brennan with 11 minutes left before halftime, but a 3-point shot by Bayardelle 15 seconds later put The Rock back on top.

Ninety seconds later, the score was tied for the fourth and final time at 24-24. SRU then closed out the opening stanza with an 18-10 scoring advantage to take an eight-point lead into the intermission.

The Rock scored the first six points of the second half to push the margin to 14 points, 48-34, and held their largest lead of the game, a 16-point, 64-48, advantage with 9:30 remaining in the game.

Kutztown never trimmed the deficit to less than nine points the remainder of the game.

The Rock is idle until Friday, when they visit PSAC-Eastern Division leader Bloomsburg (7-1 overall, 4-0 PSAC) for a 7:30 p.m. game. After a short turnaround, SRU visits Mansfield (2-3, 1-3) for a 4 p.m. game Saturday.

The Green and White are then idle for Fall Semester final exams before opening a five-game homestand Dec. 19 against Chestnut Hill College (4 p.m. tipoff).