EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team held the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's highest scoring offense to its lowest output of the season, but East Stroudsburg rallied late to post a 62-53 win Saturday in PSAC crossover action from Koehler Field House.
 
The Rock held the Warriors to just 22 points in the first half and led 30-22 early in the second half before ESU put together a 10-0 run to jump back into the game. SRU held serve for much of the second half and maintained a one-point lead with six minutes to play, but ESU slammed the door with a 17-7 run over the final six minutes to pull away for the win. The Warriors outscored The Rock 40-25 in the second half.
 
The loss drops Slippery Rock to 10-7 overall and 6-5 in PSAC games, while ESU improves to 12-4 overall and 10-1 in league games.
 
Both teams were nearly even in their shooting numbers from the field, but the difference in the game came in the turnover battle and at the free throw line. The Rock turned the ball over 18 times and ESU converted those miscues into a 20-10 advantage in points off turnovers. The Warriors were also 15-of-19 at the free throw line, while SRU made just five free throw attempts in 12 trips to the line.
 
Slippery Rock posted a massive advantage in the paint, outrebounding the Warriors 39-22 and recording a 30-16 edge in points in the paint, but those advantages couldn't make up for the turnovers and trouble at the free throw line.
 
Christal Malalu had one of his best games in a Rock uniform to lead all players with a game-high double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds. Malalu was 8-of-10 from the field and played 29 minutes.
 
Merdic Green was the only other SRU player in double figures with 15 points. He also grabbed five rebounds. Khyree Wooten scored nine points and Naquil Jones added eight points and four assists as those four players combined to score 49 of the team's 53 points.
 
Slippery Rock shot 46 percent from the field (23-of-50), 28.6 percent from 3-point (2-of-7) and 41.7 percent at the free throw line (5-of-12).
 
East Stroudsburg recovered from its slow start and finished the game shooting 43.8 percent from the field (21-of-48), 33.3 percent from 3-point (5-of-15) and 78.9 percent at the free throw line (15-of-19). The Warriors entered the game scoring a league-high 90.4 points per game and had scored at least 85 points in six straight games dating back to Dec. 4. The 62 points scored Saturday were the lowest scored by ESU this season and marked just the fifth time the Warriors were held below 70 points.
 
Kitt Najee Harris scored 13 points and handed out four assists to lead ESU. Chris Bing added 10 points as the only other Warrior to reach double figures.
 
Saturday's game was the third in six days for both teams, with ESU playing all three games this week at home. SRU traveled twice and played one home game during the week. It also marked the final crossover game against a PSAC East school that SRU will play this season.
 
The Rock will now return to its normal PSAC West schedule for the rest of the season with games each Wednesday and Saturday. SRU will have the advantage of staying home for both games next week and will host Pitt-Johnstown Wednesday night at 7 p.m. and Edinboro next Saturday at 3 p.m.