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CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team picked up its third straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division victory with a 64-62 road win at California University (Pa.) Saturday evening.
 
The Rock jumped out to a 35-21 halftime lead after the Vulcans made just five field goals in the opening period, but California scored 20 points from the free throw line in the second half to battle back and tie the game at 57-57 with just over two minutes to play.
 
The Rock regained the lead on their next possession and went 7-of-8 from the free throw line in the final two minutes to hold on for the win. A last second 3-point attempt from California failed to make it to the rim.
 
The win improves Slippery Rock to 15-5 overall and 10-4 in PSAC action. California drops to 12-7 overall and 8-6 in league games.
 
Saturday's game was filled with a reversal of trends for The Rock as they were outrebounded for just the third time all season, 45-38. It marked just the third time this year with less than 40 total rebounds and snapped a streak of 13 straight games with at least 40 rebounds. SRU also managed only seven offensive rebounds after entering the game leading the nation at 20.1 offensive boards per game. It was just the third time all year the team has failed to record double digit offensive rebounds.
 
It was a shock that California was even in the game after the Vulcans put together one of the worst offensive performances from a Rock opponent all year. They shot just 26.3 percent from the field (15-of-57) and 18.2 percent from 3-point (2-of-11). The key for the hosts was the free throw line, where they scored 30 points and went 30-of-39 (76.9 percent). Only one Vulcan player made more than three shots from the field.
 
Slippery Rock shot 44 percent in the first half but just 29.2 percent in the second half to allow California back into the game. The Rock finished shooting 36.7 percent overall (18-of-49), 36.4 percent from 3-point (8-of-22) and 71.4 percent at the free throw line (20-of-28).
 
The Rock also turned the ball over 19 times after entering the game with the lowest turnover average in the league. It marked the second worst turnover figure of the season for SRU after a 20-turnover showing against Millersville. Oddly enough, Slippery Rock won both of those games.
 
Only three Rock players recorded more than five points in the game Saturday, led by a 19-point effort from Kelvin Goodwin. He went 8-of-8 at the free throw line and also handed out six assists. Frank Holloway scored 18 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and Antonio Butler scored 13 points for his 12th straight double figure scoring output.
 
California was paced by Khalil Jabbie with 18 points, 10 of which came from the free throw line. He went 4-for-11 from the field and was the only Cal player to make at least four field goals. Richard Smith added 11 points, seven of which came from the free throw line, and Calvin Brown chipped in 10 points.
 
Saturday's game was the eighth straight win for SRU over California and marked the end of the first round of divisional play. Slippery Rock will now head down the homestretch of the season to play each Western Division team one more time.
 
First up for Slippery Rock is a showdown with division co-leaders Gannon Wednesday night at 8 p.m. in Morrow Field House.
 
The division standings after the first round of games are extremely tight, with only one game separating the top four teams that are vying for the regular season title and hosting rights in the playoffs.
 
Mercyhurst and Gannon are each leading the division at 11-3. Indiana sits third at 10-3 and Slippery Rock is fourth at 10-4. California is fifth at 8-6 and Edinboro and Pitt-Johnstown are tied for the sixth and final playoff spot at 6-8.