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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team “painted” a masterpiece Wednesday night en route to a 75-58 win over visiting Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division rival California U. of Pa.
The Rock parlayed a 42-20 scoring advantage “in the paint” and made 50% of their field-goal attempts into their fourth consecutive win, 13th in 16 outings this winter and 10th in 12 conference games.
In the process, SRU, which received votes in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches' Division II national poll, remained tied for the PSAC-West lead with ninth-ranked Indiana (Pa.), which won an 86-72 overtime decision Wednesday night at Edinboro.
The Rock travel to Edinboro for a 3 p.m. division game Saturday and visit Indiana for a 7:30 p.m. game the following Saturday, Feb. 2.
Sandwiched between those two games is a home date next Wednesday (8 p.m. tipoff) with Gannon (15-3, 9-3), which is in third place, one game behind SRU and IUP in the division standings.
Before they turn their thoughts to the Edinboro game and next week's dates, though, The Rock will enjoy their win over California and the rewards that came with it.
Wednesday's win also gave The Rock, who are off to their best start since 1989-90, their most wins in a five-year period. SRU has carved out an 87-44 record since
Kevin Reynolds became the Green and White's head coach in May 2008.
Senior forward
Gerald Brooks scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a substitute role to lead a group of four Rock players who had double-digit scoring totals vs. California.
Junior swingman
Tabari Perry had 15 points and seven rebounds for SRU, while senior guard
John Bayardelle (pictured) added 13 points and senior center
Luiz Santos finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Senior forward
Devin Taylor chipped in eight points and 10 rebounds for The Rock, senior guard
Aubin Reeves added eight points and eight assists, junior guard
Sa'Quan Davis handed out six assists and senior guard
Darious Clark had five rebounds and four points to complete the total-team effort.
Tynell Fortune scored a team-high 15 points and snared five rebounds for California (6-10 overall, 5-7 PSAC), while Keith Lowe had 11 points, six rebounds and five assists.
The Rock finished with game with a 31-of-62 efficiency on its field-goal attempts, with a 4-of-16 sub-total on shots from beyond the 3-point arc, and made nine of 13 (69%) of their free throws.
SRU outrebounded the Vulcans by a 42-33 margin, marking the 15th time in 16 games this winter the Green and White ruled the backboards, but were on the high side of a 15-11 turnover comparison.
Brooks and Bayardelle combined to give The Rock a 30-19 scoring advantage in scoring “off the bench” and SRU had a 14-9 advantage in second-chance points.
California shot 30% (18-60) from the field, hit five of 14 (36%) of its 3-point shots and sank 17 of 23 (69%) of its free throws.
The Vulcans hung around early in the game as they battled The Rock to a 21-21 stalemate after 12 and a half minutes of action.
SRU then went on an 11-0 run as part of a 20-6 scoring advantage that gave the hosts a 41-27 lead at halftime.
The largest lead of the game was a 30-point, 68-38, Rock cushion with seven minutes left to play. California closed out the game with a 20-7 run to make the final score respectable.
