ERIE, Pa. – It took the worst shooting performance of the season for the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team's 12-game winning streak to come to an end as The Rock were beaten 82-74 on the road at Gannon University Wednesday night in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action.
 
Gannon entered the game with the worst offensive unit in the PSAC, averaging just over 60 points per game and shooting just 39.0 percent, but the Golden Knights put up their best effort of the season. Gannon shot better than 70 percent for most of the first half in building a 40-27 halftime lead and finished the game shooting 52.9 percent, including a season-best 63.6 percent from 3-point. The Golden Knights had only reached the 40 percent shooting mark four times in their last 13 games and had scored at least 70 points only four times in 19 games.
 
The Rock on the other hand shot less than 30 percent for the first half, failed to make a single field goal for the final 5:15 of the opening period and ended the night with their worst shooting effort of the year at 35.7 percent. SRU outscored Gannon 47-42 in the second half, but couldn't overcome the 29.6 percent shooting effort in the first half.
 
The loss ends the SRU winning streak, which was the seventh longest active streak in Division II, at 12 games, tied for the third longest in program history. SRU drops to 14-6 overall and 11-2 in PSAC games and slides one-game behind Indiana (Pa.) for the top spot in the PSAC West. Gannon improves to 8-12 overall and 6-7 in PSAC games with its eighth straight home win over SRU. The Rock have not won a road game at the Hammermill Center since 2013.
 
Slippery Rock led most of the first half before Gannon put together a 17-0 run and stretched the lead out to 13 points at halftime. The lead grew to as much as 15 points in the second half before SRU slowly chipped away, cutting the advantage to six points at 60-54 with 7:17 to play, but that would be as close as The Rock would get. Gannon made 17-of-22 free throws and SRU struggled with fouls down the stretch, including a couple key offensive fouls that took away baskets and killed momentum.  
 
Gannon finished the game shooting 52.9 percent from the field (27-of-51), 63.6 percent from 3-point (7-of-11) and 70 percent from the free throw line (21-of-30). The Golden Knights survived turning the ball over 24 times, in part thanks to posting a 41-27 advantage on the glass.
 
Slippery Rock shot 35.7 percent from the field (20-of-56), 34.6 percent from 3-point (9-of-26) and 75.8 percent at the free throw line (25-of-33).
 
Micah Till finished with 16 points, nine rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals to lead four SRU players in double figures. John Warren II and Jared Armstrong each scored 15 points and Vinny Lasley added 10 points.
 
Nolen Gerald scored eight points and handed out seven assists and Amante Britt also scored eight points.
 
Gannon was paced by Daryl Porter, who doubled his season average to finish with 22 points.
 
Slippery Rock will look to restart its winning streak when California University (Pa.) visits Morrow Field House Saturday for a 3 p.m. tip.


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