SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team bounced back from a three-game losing skid with its best shooting performance of the season in a convincing 83-60 victory over the University of the District of Columbia Wednesday afternoon in non-conference action from Morrow Field House.
 
The Rock shot an incredible 75 percent from the field in the first half, missing just six shots and going 18-of-24 from the floor to jump out to a 39-20 lead at the break. On the other side, UDC managed just a 28.6 percent shooting efficiency in the opening period. That difference was the deciding factor in the game.
 
Slippery Rock improves to 3-3 overall with the win, while UDC drops to 1-3. The win was the fourth straight in the series for SRU and improves The Rock to 5-1 all-time against the Firebirds.
 
UDC never got within striking distance in the second half as Slippery Rock posted a 44-40 edge in scoring over the final 20 minutes, despite cooling off to shot 51.5 percent from the field in the final period.
 
The hot shooting for The Rock masked another troublesome performance in the turnover battle as the hosts turned the ball over 21 times and allowed UDC to score 25 of its 60 points off those turnovers.
 
Slippery Rock finished the game with a season-high 61.4 percent effort from the floor (35-of-57), was 22.2 percent from 3-point (2-of-9) and 84.6 percent at the free throw line (11-of-13). The Rock were dominant on the glass with a 43-21 edge in total boards and turned nine offensive rebounds into 10 second chance points. SRU outscored UDC 44-20 in the paint, 14-2 on fast breaks and 22-16 in bench scoring.
 
The Firebirds shot 45 percent in the second half to lift their final number to 37.3 percent from the field (22-of-59). They were 33.3 percent from 3-point (6-of-18) and 58.8 percent from the free throw line (10-of-17).
 
The Rock were paced by Naquil Jones with a game-high 19 points that came on 8-of-12 shooting. Jones also pulled down five rebounds and handed out four assists. He made seven of his first eight shots from the field and had 17 points in the first half.
 
Merdic Green scored 18 points, grabbed six boards and handed out a game-high five assists. Amir Maddred added 14 points and Jordan Marrow and Chrisal Malalu each scored eight points. Vinny Lasley scored six points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Tony Gates also scored six points and Khyree Wooten added four points as eight of the nine players that saw time recorded points. George Chase didn't score in the game, but did grab three rebounds and hand out four assists. 

UDC was led by Jason Nickerson with 16 points and Kasim Chandler with 15 points.
 
Slippery Rock will not break for the Thanksgiving holiday and will travel to Buffalo, New York for a 2 p.m. tip Friday at Daemen College. The Rock return to PSAC action next Saturday and Sunday with crossover games at home against West Chester and Cheyney.