SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team couldn't overcome late runs from East Stroudsburg in each half in suffering a 98-72 defeat at home in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference crossover action Wednesday night at Morrow Field House.
 
The Rock opened the game with a 13-2 run and maintained a lead for just over seven minutes in the first half, but East Stroudsburg put together a 36-19 run over the final 13 minutes of the half to lead 52-36 at halftime.
 
The Warriors scored the first two points of the second half to lead by 18 points, but Slippery Rock rallied with a 12-0 run to cut the deficit to six points, 54-48, with 15:42 to play.
 
From there, East Stroudsburg put together a 19-5 run over the next eight minutes to put the game out of reach.

In total, Slippery Rock opened the game with a 13-2 run and opened the second half with a 12-2 run for a 25-4 margin over a seven-minute span, but was outscored 94-47 over the other 33 minutes of the game.
 
The loss drops SRU to 8-7 overall and 3-6 in PSAC action after the sixth and final crossover against the Eastern Division. The Rock posted a 2-4 record against the East in the crossovers. East Stroudsburg improves to 10-3 overall and 6-3 in PSAC games with the win.
 
Malcolm Richardson led Slippery Rock against his former team as the East Stroudsburg transfer finished with game-highs of 24 points and 12 rebounds. He also handed out three assists.
 
Chaquille Pratt scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds and Juwan Strothers added 10 points to cap the top scorers for The Rock. Cornelius Brown recorded seven points and seven rebounds and Erik Raleigh recorded two blocked shots to bring his career total to 99 and move him into second all-time at SRU.
 
Slippery Rock shot 38.2 percent from the field (21-of-55), 55.6 percent rom 3-point (5-of-9) and 69.4 percent at the free throw line (25-of-36). The Rock recorded a 42-36 edge in total rebounds and pulled down 15 offensive boards, but managed to turn those into just six second-chance points. The Warriors forced 23 SRU turnovers and converted those in to 24 points.

East Stroudsburg finished the game shooting 48.5 percent from the field (33-of-68), 36 percent from 3-point (9-of-25) and 71.9 percent from the free throw line (23-of-32).
 
The game featured 50 total fouls and 68 total free throw attempts.
 
Najee Willis led four players in double figures for ESU with 15 points. Rasheed Moore chipped in 14 points, Will Brown added 11 and Quindell Brice scored 10. A total of 11 different Warriors tallied at least four points in the game.
 
Slippery Rock will return to PSAC Western Division action beginning this Saturday with a 3 p.m. road game at rival Indiana University (Pa.).