SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team outscored Clarion University 42-26 in the second half to pull away for an 82-65 victory Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action from Morrow Field House.
 
Clarion (3-21, 0-18 PSAC) entered the day winless in PSAC games, but pushed Slippery Rock (19-6, 13-6 PSAC) for most of the afternoon. The Golden Eagles trailed by just one point at halftime and managed to keep The Rock within striking distance until the near the midway point of the second half.
 
Slippery Rock led 55-54 with 11:18 to play before putting together a 20-7 run over the next six minutes to take a 75-61 lead with 5:15 to play. Clarion cut it back to a 10-point game at 75-65 with 3:30 to play, but wouldn't score again the rest of the way as SRU closed the game on a 7-0 run to put it away.
 
The Rock held Clarion to just eight made field goals in the second half and knocked down 18-of-24 free throw attempts over the final 20 minutes to keep the Golden Eagles at bay.
 
Slippery Rock finished the game shooting 43.9 percent from the field (25-of-57), 31.8 percent from 3-point (7-of-22) and 65.8 percent from the free throw line (25-of-38). SRU posted a 41-31 edge in rebounds and used its size advantage in the paint to get to the free throw line 38 times compared to just 14 free throw attempts for Clarion.
 
The Golden Eagles shot 42.1 percent from the field (24-of-57), 46.7 percent from 3-point (7-of-15) and 71.4 percent at the free throw line (10-of-14). Clarion was solid on the defensive glass, holding SRU to just 12 offensive rebounds. The Rock entered the game leading the nation in offensive rebounding at 18.0 per game.
 
The biggest spark of the day for SRU came from Gabe Mack, who entered the game midway through the second period and was nearly unstoppable on the offensive end of the floor. Despite playing just 17 total minutes, Mack finished with 19 points, including a 3-for-4 effort from 3-point and a 6-of-7 showing at the free throw line.
 
Micah Till continued his dominant play in the paint and posted his 18th double-double of the season with game-highs of 23 points and 12 rebounds. He also blocked two shots and had two steals.
 
Brandon Simmons added 12 points, six rebounds and three blocks to bring his season tally to 67 blocks. He is now just one block shy of the SRU single-season record of 68, set by Kevin Jones during the 1990-91 season.
 
Bruce Spruell finished with eight points and six assists, Tony Gates scored eight points and Khyree Wooten and Christal Malalu each chipped in six points to cap the scoring for SRU.
 
Clarion was paced by Khari Williams and Brandon Williams with 14 points each. Leading scorer Cameron Grumley finished the day with 11 points on a 4-of-16 shooting performance.
 
Slippery Rock stayed in second place in the PSAC West with the win and stayed a half-game ahead of Gannon for the important second spot in the division standings with three games remaining in the regular season. The Rock will close the year with road games at third place Gannon and fourth place Edinboro and a home game against fifth place Pitt-Johnstown, giving SRU one of the tougher final stretches in the league.
 
Next up for The Rock will be a road trip to Edinboro Wednesday night for a 7:30 p.m. game.
 
 
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