AMHERST, N.Y.  – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team got out to a slow start and couldn't overcome a 19-point halftime deficit in suffering a 69-57 non-conference loss on the road at Daemen College Friday afternoon at Lumsden Gymnasium.
 
The Rock (3-4) trailed 42-23 at halftime before going on a 22-11 run midway through the second half to cut the deficit to eight points with just over six minutes to play. Daemen (5-0) bounced back down the stretch to finish the game on an 11-7 run over the final six minutes to cap the 69-57 win.
 
The Wildcats shot nearly 55 percent from the field in the opening half and were aided by 11 Rock turnovers in the opening 20 minutes. The hosts turned those takeaways into 17 points in building a 19-point edge at the break.
 
The Rock had the better of the play in the second period, shooting 48 percent and holding Daemen to 41 percent from the field over the final 20 minutes, but it wouldn't be enough to make up for the slow start.
 
Slippery Rock finished the game shooting 45.5 percent from the field (25-of-55), 13.3 percent from 3-point (2-of-15) and 50 percent at the free throw line (5-of-10) in a game that featured just 14 total free throws. The Rock were dominant on the glass and posted a +15 margin with a 39-24 edge in total rebounds. SRU has now outrebounded its opponent in all seven games this season.
 
Daemen shot 48.3 percent for the game (29-of-60), 39.1 percent from 3-point (9-of-23) and 50 percent from the free throw line (2-of-4). The Wildcats posted advantages of 30-28 in scoring in the paint, 21-11 in points off turnovers, 7-2 in fast break points and 22-14 in bench scoring.
 
Slippery Rock was led by Amir Maddred with 15 points and four rebounds in just 20 minutes of action. Naquil Jones added 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists for his third straight double-figure scoring effort and his fifth in the last six games.
 
Vinny Lasley added seven points, George Chase scored six points and grabbed six boards and Merdic Green scored five points and grabbed five rebounds. Jordan Marrow and Christal Malalu each scored four points and Khyree Wooten added two points.
 
Daemen was led by Jeff Redband and Supreme Hannah with 16 points each.
 
Friday's game was the second to last non-conference game on the schedule for Slippery Rock, which will close the non-conference schedule Dec. 18 at Roberts Wesleyan in Rochester, N.Y. Before then, The Rock will return to PSAC crossover play and will host West Chester next Saturday and Cheyney next Sunday.