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ERIE, Pa. – Senior center Maurice Lewis-Briggs recorded game-high totals of 27 points and eight rebounds Wednesday night in a losing effort as Slippery Rock University dropped a 59-56 decision at Gannon University in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division men's basketball action.

The loss dropped SRU's season records to 16-7 overall, 7-4 in division competition and into fourth place in the PSAC West standings.

Gannon, with its second win over The Rock in as many meetings this winter, improved its season records to 13-8 overall and 8-3 in division play, the latter mark good for sole possession of third place in the PSAC West standings.

Lewis-Briggs was one of three Rock players who finished the game with a double-digit scoring total. Senior swingman Tabari Perry added 12 points and seven rebounds, while junior forward Kelvin Dixon chipped in 10 points.

Raphell Thomas-Edwards led the winning Gannon attack with 20 points and six rebounds. Adam Blazek and A'Darius Porter each added 12 points for the hosts.

The Rock made 20 of 51 (39%) shots from the floor with a 4-of-19 (21%) showing from 3-point range and made 12 of 18 free throws.

Gannon made 44% (21-48) of its action shots with a frigid 1-for-7 (14%) effort from 3-point range and sank 16 of 20 free throws.

SRU had a 35-27 rebounding advantage in the battle of the PSAC's top two backboard attacks, while was on the high side of a 17-11 turnover comparison.

The game action accurately reflected a battle between two evenly-matched, tied-for-third-place teams as the score was tied on 11 occasions and the lead changed hands six times during the 40 minutes of action.

The Rock spent most of the game playing from behind, though, as they did not take their first lead of the game until the 4:15 mark of the first half (19-18).

The score was tied at 20, 25 and 27 in the final minutes of the first half, the latter knot standing as the score at the intermission.

The second half began in much the same fashion as the opening stanza finished as the score was tied at 29, 31, 33, 35, 38 and 44 before Gannon scored seven unanswered points to take the largest lead of the game, 51-44, with 8:20 left to play.

Gannon held another seven-point lead, 58-51, with 3:15 left before The Rock scored five consecutive points to trim the margin to 58-56 with 47 seconds left but that proved to be the extent of any last-minute Rock comeback.

The Rock look to bounce back Saturday when they host Pitt-Johnstown in a 3 p.m. game in Morrow Field House.