ERIE, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team saw its chances at an upset bid disappear late in the game Wednesday night as Gannon University held on for a 57-54 victory in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action from the Hammermill Center.
 
The Rock trailed by two points, 54-52, when Jordan Marrow pulled down a defensive rebound and brought the ball up the court for a chance at the tying or winning bucket. He was stripped from behind and the ball went out of bounds with 13 seconds left. The official in front of the play ruled possession for Slippery Rock, but a second official overturned the call and ruled the ball out on SRU, giving the ball back to Gannon.
 
The Golden Knights hit both free throws after an SRU foul with 11 seconds left and The Rock would never get another chance at a potentially tying possession.
 
Slippery Rock finished the game with more made field goals, more made 3-point field goals and a +12 advantage in total rebounds, but Gannon made 20-of-28 free throw attempts in the game to provide the biggest difference on the scoreboard. SRU made eight free throws in 13 trips to the line.
 
The loss is the fourth in a row for The Rock and drops the team to 10-10 overall and 6-8 in PSAC games this season. SRU remains in fourth place in the divisional standings, tied with Mercyhurst. Gannon improves to 13-5 overall and 11-3 in league games, remaining in second place in the PSAC West.
 
Both teams struggled offensively and shot an identical 36.7 percent from the field. SRU was 22-of-60 from the floor, while Gannon was 18-of-49. The Rock were 2-of-10 from 3-point and 8-of-13 (61.5 percent) at the free throw line. The Golden Knights made just one 3-pointer (1-of-8) and were 20-of-28 (71.4 percent) at the free throw line. SRU posted a 43-31 edge in total rebounds after entering the game ranked sixth in the nation in rebounding margin at +10.4 boards per game.
 
Merdic Green paced SRU with 15 points. Amir Maddred added 11 points and 10 rebounds for the only double-double in the game.
 
Khyree Wooten and Vinny Lasley each scored eight points, while Marrow and Christal Malalu chipped in five points each. SRU played without the services of the team's leading scorer, Naquil Jones.
 
Gannon was led by Zay Jackson with a game-high 20 points that including a 9-of-10 effort at the free throw line. Damon Miraud added 13 points and Evan Phoenix and Matthew Dogan each scored 10 points for the Golden Knights.
 
Slippery Rock led 28-24 at halftime in a game that featured 10 lead changes and eight ties. Both teams traded momentum in the second half with neither team ever able to separate by more than five points in the final 18 minutes.
 
Wednesday night's game marked just the second time this season SRU has lost a game it was leading at halftime as The Rock entered the game 7-1 in such situations. It also marked the final game of the first round of PSAC West divisional play for Slippery Rock, which will now play each of the eight PSAC West teams one final time to close the regular season.
 
The Rock will look to get back on track and bolster their playoff position beginning this Saturday when Seton Hill visits Morrow Field House for a 3 p.m. tip. SRU will play three of its next four games at home, with the annual "White Out" game set for Feb. 1 against California (Pa.) and a "Black Out" game set for Feb. 8 against Mercyhurst. More details on both of those events will be announced Thursday.