Postgame Interview

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team closed the first half on a 37-16 run and never trailed in the second half of a 79-71 win over Lock Haven University Tuesday night in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference crossover action from Morrow Field House.
 
The victory was the third in a row for Slippery Rock, which improved to 5-5 overall and 2-1 in PSAC games with the win. Lock Haven dropped to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in PSAC games with the loss.
 
The Bald Eagles jumped out to an early four-point lead at 10-6 less than five minutes into the game, but The Rock took over from there and dominated the rest of the opening period. SRU outscored LHU by a 37-16 margin over the final 14:36 of the half to lead 43-26 at the break.
 
Slippery Rock extended the lead to a game-high 21 points early in the second half before Lock Haven began to slowly chip away at the deficit. The Bald Eagles held a double-digit advantage in free throw attempts for most of the second half and used that edge and an 8-of-17 shooting effort from beyond the 3-point line to claw back to within six points, 71-65 with 2:08 to play. The Rock stopped the rally and knocked down 6-of-8 free throws in the final 1:13 to put the game away.
 
All 11 players that appeared in the game for SRU registered points in one of the most balanced scoring efforts of the season. The Rock got eight or more points from six different players and placed four players in double figures. Micah Till led the way with 16 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and two steals.
 
Nolen Gerald added 13 points and Vinny Lasley and John Warren II each scored 10 points. Jason Fowlkes made three 3-point shots and finished with nine points. Will Bounds added eight points, Amante Britt scored four points, Jared Armstrong chipped in three points and Andre Seadey, Nik Cazacu and Nick Barney all scored two points.
 
Slippery Rock shot 53.7 percent from the field (29-of-54), 55.6 percent from 3-point (10-of-18) and 68.8 percent from the free throw line (11-of-16). The Rock finished with a slim 33-32 edge in total rebounds and outscored LHU 38-20 in the paint.
 
Lock Haven shot 39.7 percent from the field (23-of-58), 46.2 percent from 3-point (12-of-26) and 76.5 percent from the free throw line (13-of-17). The Bald Eagles were led by Matt Cerruti with a game-high 20 points, which included four 3-pointers. Christian Kelly added 18 points and Jaylen Washington scored 10 points.
 
Slippery Rock will have little time to savor the win as The Rock will host Bloomsburg University in another PSAC crossover Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.
 
 
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