SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team outscored division leading Indiana University (Pa.) 50-28 in the second half to snap the Crimson Hawks' 13-game winning streak with a 73-61 victory in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action Saturday night from Morrow Field House.
 
The Rock managed just 23 points in the first 20 minutes and trailed 33-23 at halftime, but dominated the second half by shooting 59.1 percent from the field (13-of-22), 60 percent from 3-point (3-of-5) and 91.3 percent from the free throw line (21-of-23) over the final 20 minutes. It marked just the second time this season SRU has rallied from a halftime deficit to earn a win.
 
On the other side of the ball Slippery Rock held the third best shooting team in the PSAC to just 30 percent in the second half and just 37.9 percent for the game, which marked the worst shooting performance on the season for Indiana.
 
The victory improves SRU to 14-11 overall and 9-10 in PSAC games and gives The Rock a win over first place Indiana, a win over second place Edinboro, two wins over third place Mercyhurst and a win over fourth place Pitt-Johnstown. SRU is now 5-2 against the top four teams in the Western Division standings. The win also moved SRU into a tie with Seton Hill for fifth place in the standings with three games to play. The top six teams in the division will make the postseason tournament.
 
Indiana, which entered Saturday night's game as the hottest team in the PSAC with a 13-game winning streak, drops to 19-6 overall and 16-4 in PSAC games with its first loss since Dec. 12.
 
Cornelius Brown sparked The Rock's victory with his third straight and 12th overall double-double of the season after scoring a game-high 23 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. His effort on the glass helped Slippery Rock to a 39-23 edge in rebounding on the night. Brown's performance was even more notable in that he was nearly flawless shooting all night, going 7-of-9 from the field and 9-of-11 from the free throw line.
 
His effort ended up overshadowing the league's leading scorer, Brandon Norfleet of Indiana, who still got near his average to finish with 22 points, but struggled against the SRU defense to the tune of a 7-for-23 shooting effort.
 
Malcolm Richardson added 19 points and three assists for SRU and Abdul King chipped in 10 points, six rebounds and two assists. Chaquille Pratt added eight points and six rebounds and Jamal Gatali added nine points.
 
Richardson, Pratt and Gatali all played the full 40 minutes for SRU, while King and Brown each played 32 minutes.
 
Slippery Rock finished with one of its best shooting efforts of the year at 51.1 percent from the field (24-of-47), 36.4 percent from 3-point (4-of-11) and 77.8 percent from the free throw line (21-of-27).
 
Indiana made 22-of-58 attempts from the field for its 37.9 percent efficiency, which included a 4-of-15 effort from 3-point (26.7 percent). The Crimson Hawks were 86.7 percent at the free throw line (13-of-15).
 
Dante Lombardi scored 18 points to join Norfleet in leading the visitors. Daddy Ugbede and Jacobo Diaz each chipped in nine points.
 
Indiana scored the first basket of the second half to open up a 12-point lead, 35-23, before Slippery Rock put together a 13-4 run to cut it to 39-36 with 15:28 to play.
 
The Crimson Hawks pushed the advantage back out to six points, 46-40, with 11:20 to play, but again SRU responded with a rally, this time of 7-0 to take its first lead of the second half, 47-46 with 9:00 left.
 
IUP regained a 50-49 lead with 7:44 to play before Slippery Rock put together what would become the decisive run. Brown hit a layup and then knocked down two free throws to spark another 7-0 run to put The Rock out front 56-50 with 5:52 to play.
 
Indiana chipped away at the deficit and cut it to two points, 61-59 with 3:43 to play, but Slippery Rock put the game away with another 6-0 run over the next two minutes and closed the game on a 12-2 run to earn the victory.
 
Slippery Rock improved to 9-3 at home this season and 30-5 at Morrow Field House over its last 35 home games. That bodes well for The Rock, who will host Clarion Wednesday and Gannon next Saturday in their next two games before closing the year at Pitt-Johnstown.