ERIE, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team had its two-game win streak snapped with a 71-66 loss on the road at Gannon University Saturday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action from the Hammermill Center.
 
Slippery Rock led by as much as nine points and held a 37-30 advantage at halftime, but Gannon outscored The Rock 41-29 in the second half to complete the comeback win. The loss drops Slippery Rock to 10-10 overall and 5-9 in PSAC games. Gannon picks up its first win of the year over a PSAC West opponent and improves to 4-13 overall and 3-11 in PSAC games with the win.
 
The Rock led by eight points, 58-50, with 6:18 to play before Gannon put together a 9-0 run to take a 59-58 lead with 2:50 to play.
 
Slippery Rock regained a one-point edge on a layup from Cornelius Brown on the next possession, but Gannon answered back with points on each of its next two possessions to retake the lead for good. Jean Yves Toupane knocked down all eight free throws he took in the final 18 seconds to seal the victory.
 
Brown finished with a team-high 17 points to lead Slippery Rock. Abdul King matched his career-high with 12 points, but all 12 were scored in the first half as he sat most of the second half after picking up three quick fouls early in the period. Malcolm Richardson added 11 points and Erik Raleigh and Chaquille Pratt each chipped in eight points.
 
Slippery Rock shot 45.7 percent from the field (21-of-46), 23.5 percent from 3-point (4-of-17) and 76.9 percent at the free throw line (20-of-26). The Rock were uncharacteristically outrebounded by 11 as Gannon posted a 34-23 edge on the glass.
 
Gannon shot 44.7 percent from the field (21-of-47), 40 percent from 3-point (4-of-10) and 86.2 percent from the free throw line (25-of-29).
 
Toupane finished with a game-high 27 points after going 15-of-16 at the free throw line. C.J. Asuncion-Byrd added 14 points and Tony Boykins and Ian Gardener each scored eight points.
 
Saturday's game marked the final game in the first round of divisional play in the PSAC West. The Rock now have eight games remaining in the season with four at home and four on the road. The final round of divisional play kicks off Wednesday with a 7:30 p.m. game on the road at Mercyhurst.