SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team dropped a 74-70 decision to Lock Haven University Sunday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference crossover action from Morrow Field House.
 
The game featured 18 lead changes and nine ties, the last of which came at 69-69 with 52 seconds to play. A foul called on Jamal Gatali with 28 seconds left sent Lock Haven's Bootsie Walker to the free throw line for three shots. He knocked down two that put the visitors up 71-69 and Slippery Rock could never even the score.
 
The Rock got within one point when Malcolm Richardson made 1-of-2 free throws with 20 seconds left. Al Blount knocked down a pair at the other end for LHU to make it 73-70. Slippery Rock took a timeout with seven seconds left and got a decent look at a 3-pointer to tie the game, but Richardson's shot caromed off the back of the rim.
 
Slippery Rock drops to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in PSAC games. Lock Haven improves to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in PSAC games.
 
Gatali led the offensive effort for SRU with 19 points, including five 3-pointers, before he fouled out of the game. Cornelius Brown finished with a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds and Richardson finished with 11 points and four assists. Chaquille Pratt netted eight points and pulled down 11 rebounds and Dontay Jackson scored six points and handed out three assists.
 
Free throw shooting was an issue for The Rock, who went to the line 23 times and converted just 12 for a 52.2 percent effort. Overall Slippery Rock shot 42.4 percent from the floor (25-of-59) and 44.4 percent from 3-point (8-of-18). The Rock posted a 39-36 edge in total rebounds.
 
Lock Haven shot 43.6 percent from the field (24-of-55), 60 percent from 3-point (6-of-10) and 76.9 percent at the free throw line (20-of-26).
 
The Bald Eagles were led by Walker with 20 points and six rebounds. Tracy Peal added 12 points and Blount chipped in 10 points.
 
Slippery Rock trailed 41-33 at halftime but opened the second half with a 9-0 run to get back into the game. The two teams traded momentum swings for most of the second half and neither team managed a lead larger than eight points throughout.
 
The Rock will turn their focus to a Tuesday non-conference game that will be played at the University of D.C. at 7 p.m.