EDINBORO, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team suffered the unfortunate consequences of running into Edinboro University on its best shooting night of the whole season Wednesday night as the Scots handed The Rock a 97-87 defeat in a crucial Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division game.
 
The loss overshadowed a single-season record set by Brandon Simmons, who finished the night with two blocks to bring his season total to 69. He surpassed the former SRU record of 68 that was set by Kevin Jones during the 1990-91 season, a mark that lasted nearly 27 years. Simmons also netted eight points and six rebounds on the night.

Slippery Rock shot 51 percent from the field and put up 87 points on the night, but couldn't keep up with Edinboro's 52.5 percent effort from the field or its 10-of-16 effort from 3-point and 25-of-27 effort at the free throw line. The Scots finished the night with their most points and highest shooting percentage in a single-game all season.
 
The Rock slipped a half-game behind Gannon for the second spot in the PSAC West standings and is now just a half-game ahead of Edinboro for the third spot in the standings. SRU now needs to defeat Pitt-Johnstown this Saturday and win at Gannon in the regular season-finale, and have Edinboro lose at least one more game, to earn that second seed and the first round bye in the PSAC playoffs. Slippery Rock drops to 19-7 overall and 13-7 in PSAC games. Edinboro needed a win Wednesday night to keep its chances at the second seed alive and improved to 15-8 overall and 12-7 in PSAC games.
 
The long ball proved to be the biggest difference in the game Wednesday night as Edinboro knocked down five 3-pointers in each half and finished the game shooting 62.5 percent from 3-point (10-of-16). The Scots also hit 16-of-17 free throw attempts in the second half and finished 92.6 percent from the charity stripe (25-of-27). They shot 45 percent in the second half, but nearly 60 percent in the opening half to finish the night at 52.5 percent (31-of-59) from the field.
 
Slippery Rock shot 50.9 percent from the field (29-of-57), 30.8 percent from 3-point (4-of-13) and had one of its better performances of the year from the free throw line at 80.6 percent (25-of-31). The Rock also posted a 34-26 advantage in total rebounds and scored 18 second-chance points on 13 offensive rebounds.
 
Micah Till finished the night with a game-high 28 points, which included an 11-of-11 effort from the free throw line. He also pulled down five rebounds and blocked three shots.
 
Merdic Green scored a career-high 26 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists after entering the night with a previous career-high of 21 points.
 
Tony Gates scored nine points, while Bruce Spruell, Khyree Wooten, Gabe Mack and Christal Malalu all tallied four points for SRU.
 
Edinboro was paced by Jaymon Mason with 24 points and Mike Beck with 23 points, which included five made 3-pointers. Keshawn Liggins added 21 points as that trio of guards combined for 68 points on the night.
 
Slippery Rock will have little time to bounce back from a disappointing loss as it hosts Pitt-Johnstown Saturday at 3 p.m. in the final regular season home game of the year. The Rock dropped an overtime decision on the road at UPJ in the first meeting between the teams earlier this year.
 

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