SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team defeated Ohio University Eastern, 115-48, in non-conference play at Morrow Field House Wednesday afternoon.
SRU improved its recored to 8-5 on the season with the win. Slippery Rock is now a perfect 11-0 all-time against Ohio University Eastern.
Naquil Jones was outstanding in his Slippery Rock debut. He came off the bench to tally 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting to go with seven assists, five rebounds and four steals in 24 minutes of action.
Abdul King added 12 points and five assists followed by
Erik Raleigh (12 points)
Chaquille Pratt (11),
Juwan Strothers (11) and
Jordan Grady (10). Grady, who was 5-for-5 from the field, also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Raleigh pulled down eight rebounds as well to finish just shy of a double-double.
For the game, Slippery Rock shot 58.5 percent from the field, totaled 55 rebounds and 31 assists while committing just eight turnovers. SRU forced Ohio Eastern into 14 turnovers which it converted into 28 points.
Back-to-back 3-pointers from King and Strothers set the tone early as The Rock jumped out to a 23-5 lead through the opening seven minutes of play before SRU pulled its starters at the 12:51 mark in the first half.
Cornelius Brown produced six points and four rebounds before being subbed out. SRU's reserves outscored the Panthers 34-19 to give The Rock a 57-24 edge heading into halftime.
Eleven of Slippery Rock's 12 active players scored at least two points in the opening 20 minutes with Jones leading the way at nine points and four steals. Grady nearly had a double-double off of eight points and seven rebounds. As a team, Slippery Rock shot 60.5 percent from the field (23-for-38) while outrebounding the Panthers 23-12.
Slippery Rock continued to score at-will in the second half on the way to its 67-point victory.
Ryan Jarvie led Ohio Eastern (3-7) with 14 points.
Slippery Rock returns to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference competition 1 p.m. Sunday at Bloomsburg University. SRU's next home game is Jan. 6 against East Stroudsburg University at 7:30 p.m.
