SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team opened up the home portion of its 2016-17 schedule with a 94-61 win against Ohio University Eastern Tuesday night at Morrow Field House.
 
The non-conference victory improved The Rock's record to 2-1 on the season. Slippery Rock has now won consecutive games since its season-opening loss against No. 7 Wheeling Jesuit University. Ohio Eastern drops to 1-1 on the year with the loss.
 
Ohio Eastern played even with The Rock early on and through the opening five minutes of the first half the game was tied at 13-13. However, Slippery Rock proceeded to put the game out of reach with a 33-15 run over the following 12 minutes to open up an 18-point lead with just under three minutes to play before closing the half ahead 52-35.
 
SRU maintained its comfortable lead over the Panthers in the second half en route to the 94-61 victory.
 
Slippery Rock had its best shooting performance of the season, finishing the night 53.5 percent from the field (38-of-71), 25.0 percent from 3-point range (3-of-12) and 65.2 percent at the free throw line (15-of-23). SRU committed a season-low nine turnovers and held a commanding 53-27 edge in total rebounds. The Rock turned 18 offensive boards into 19 second chance points.
 
Three of Slippery Rock's five starters scored at least 10 points Tuesday with Jordan Marrow leading the way on a 14-point, seven-rebound, three-assist performance. Marrow went 5-for-8 from the field overall, 1-for-1 from 3-point range and 3-for-4 from the free throw line.
 
Khyree Wooten and Merdic Green each scored 14 points as well with Wooten also passing out a team-high four assists. George Chase just missed out on a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds while Christal Malalu, SRU's fifth starter, pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds, five of which came on the offensive glass.
 
Naquil Jones and Amir Maddred led The Rock's reserves by scoring 13 points and 11 points, respectively. Maddred also grabbed seven rebounds. Vinny Lasley rounded out SRU's top performers with six points and six rebounds.
 
The Panthers were held to just 36.1 percent shooting from the field (26-of-72) and 25.9 percent from 3-point territory (7-of-27). Ohio Eastern did take care of the ball extremely well against an aggressive Rock defense and finished the game with just nine turnovers.
 
Cody Schau scored 18 points and had eight rebounds to pace the Panthers.
 
Slippery Rock will look to extend its winning streak to three games when it opens Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play on the road against Shippensburg University Friday at 3 p.m.