SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team posted a comfortable 86-65 win on the road at California University (Pa.) Saturday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action.
 
The victory improves The Rock to 17-4 overall and 11-4 in PSAC action and sets up a showdown between the first and second place teams in the Western Division Wednesday night at SRU. Indiana (Pa.) hit a game-winning shot with two seconds left to escape Mercyhurst with a 67-65 win Saturday to stay two games ahead of SRU at 12-2 in PSAC games. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night at Morrow Field House.
 
California (9-12, 5-10 PSAC) kept things close early in the first half Saturday before The Rock put together a 13-0 run late in the opening period to lead 46-27 at halftime. The Vulcans would never threaten in the second half as SRU pushed the lead out to a game-high 30 points before emptying the bench.
 
Slippery Rock shot 50.7 percent from the field (35-of-69), 30.4 percent from 3-point (7-of-23) and 64.3 percent at the free throw line (9-of-14). The Rock posted a 44-33 advantage in total rebounds.
 
California scored nearly a third of its points at the free throw line after shooting just 36.8 percent from the field (21-of-57) and 15.8 percent from 3-point (3-of-19). The Vulcans were 20-of-26 at the free throw line (76.9 percent).
 
Micah Till played limited minutes in the second half after posting 21 points and grabbing seven rebounds in the first 20 minutes alone. He finished the day with a game-high 27 points and nine rebounds.
 
Brandon Simmons added 14 points and Richard Bivens had one of his best games at The Rock to finish with 12 points and six rebounds.
 
Christal Malalu, Bruce Spruell and Khyree Wooten each scored eight points, while Spruell also handed out nine assists and grabbed six rebounds.
 
California was led by Jahmere Howze with 21 points, 11 of which came at the free throw line. Isaiah Lewis scored 12 points and Philip Alexander added 11 points.
 
Saturday's game marked the opening of the second round of divisional play in the PSAC West for Slippery Rock, which swept California in the season series and has now won 14 of the last 15 against the Vulcans.
 
The Rock will host Indiana (Pa.) Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. in the annual White Out game. Official t-shirts are available at the SGA Bookstore for just $5 all week leading up to the game.

 
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