SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team stayed unbeaten in non-conference play with an 80-77 win over Daemen College Sunday afternoon at Morrow Field House.
 
The Rock improved to 4-2 overall and 4-0 in non-conference games with the win, while Daemen dropped to 3-2 overall with both of its losses coming to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division teams after it also lost to Mercyhurst.
 
Slippery Rock led for 91 percent of the game Sunday and only trailed for just over two minutes the whole way, but still had to fight off a late charge.
 
The Rock trailed 64-63 with 9:27 to play before putting together a 19-6 run that spanned a total of 8:52 and put SRU up by 10 points, 80-70 with just 55 seconds to play. SRU got scoring contributions from six different players during that stretch, led by five points from Khyree Wooten. The Rock were 7-of-15 from the field over that span, while Daemen shot just 2-of-11.
 
That changed in the final minute, however, as SRU failed to convert its free throw chances and watched the Wildcats rattle off seven points in 46 seconds to cut the deficit to 80-77 with nine seconds to play. The Rock turned the ball over on the next possession to give Daemen a chance to tie it, but the Wildcats couldn't get a shot off in the final seven seconds as SRU held on for the win.
 
The 3-pointer kept Daemen in the game all day as the Wildcats made their first five deep shots and finished the day shooting 52.6 percent from long range (10-of-19). That offset a big disadvantage in the paint as Slippery Rock outrebounded Daemen by a 38-26 margin and scored 14 second chance points on 15 offensive rebounds.
 
The Rock finished the game shooting 52.6 percent from the field (30-of-57), 44.4 percent from 3-point (4-of-9) and 76.2 percent from the free throw line (16-of-21). SRU turned the ball over 19 times, which Daemen converted into 17 points on the other end.
 
The Wildcats shot 48.4 percent from the field (31-of-64), 52.6 percent from 3-point (10-of-19) and 71.4 percent at the free throw line (5-of-7). Daemen turned the ball over 21 times, which SRU converted into 20 points the other way.
 
The Rock were paced by Wooten with 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals. Micah Till finished with 16 points in just 22 minutes as he dealt with foul trouble. Brandon Simmons added 12 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots to lead The Rock to a total of nine blocked shots on the day.
 
Merdic Green chipped in nine points and three assists, Richard Bivens added eight points and two blocks and Christal Malalu and Aaron McDonald each scored six points.
 
Daemen was led by Andrew Sischo with 24 points and nine rebounds. Jeff Redband added 15 points, all coming from long range after he shot 5-of-7 from 3-point, and Deion Hamilton scored 13 points.
 
Slippery Rock will now return to PSAC crossover play with a pair of road games next weekend, first visiting Lock Haven Saturday for a 3 p.m. game and then traveling to Bloomsburg Sunday for a 3 p.m. tip.
 
 

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