SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team dropped its second game in as many days with an 86-72 setback against Kutztown University Sunday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference crossover action from Morrow Field House.
 
The Rock (2-2, 0-2 PSAC) struggled to get things going less than 24 hours after losing a three-point game against No. 8 Shippensburg and Kutztown (2-2, 1-1 PSAC) was able to take advantage of that as the Golden Bears took the lead late in the first half and never relinquished the advantage.
 
The most telling numbers of the game came in the turnover column. Slippery Rock entered the game with 29 total turnovers in its first three games combined, but turned the ball over 25 times Sunday. Kutztown capitalized and scored 26 points off those turnovers, including 18 fast break points. The Golden Bears weren't much better in handling the ball, turning it over 21 times, but The Rock only turned those 21 turnovers into seven points.
 
Kutztown finished the game perfect at the free throw line (16-for-16) and shot 48.5 percent from the field (32-of-66) and 54.5 percent from 3-point (6-of-11). Slippery Rock shot 42.2 percent from the field (27-of-64), but just 18.2 percent from 3-point (2-of-11). The Rock were 72.7 percent from the free throw line (16-of-22) and posted a 40-34 edge in total rebounds.
 
Overshadowed in the loss was a dominant performance from Micah Till, who finished with 30 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. Khyree Wooten added 11 points and Bruce Spruell chipped in 10 points and three assists.
 
Christal Malalu scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds and Merdic Green and Aaron McDonald each scored six points.
 
Kutztown was paced by Ethan Ridgeway, who matched Till for game-high honors with 30 points. He also handed out nine assists and was a perfect 11-of-11 at the free throw line. Anthony Lee added 25 points, while Dan Cuevas scored 12 points and Moe Williams added 10.
 
Slippery Rock jumped out to an 11-4 lead just over four minutes into the game and held a lead until there was seven minutes to play in the opening half. Kutztown closed the final 7:07 of the period on a 17-10 run to lead 40-34 at the break.
 
The Rock cut the deficit to three points on the first possession of the second half, but would never get closer as Kutztown took advantage of the turnovers and slowly built a double-figure lead midway through the period.
 
Slippery Rock will break from PSAC play for the next two games, first traveling to the University of D.C. Tuesday for a 6 p.m. game before returning home to host Daemen next Sunday at 2 p.m.
 
 

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