SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team saw a 13-point lead slip away inside the final 3:40 that was capped when Cal U's Brent Pegram banked in a floater as time expired to lift the Vulcans to their first win at Slippery Rock since 2010, 94-93 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action Monday night at Morrow Field House.
 
After SRU guard Donovan Walker made a pair of free throws with four seconds left to give Slippery Rock a 93-92 lead, Pegram raced down the left side of the floor and lofted a floater off the glass as the buzzer rang. Officials ruled the ball had left Pegram's hand before time expired, putting a cap on a 13-point comeback and giving the Vulcans their first win in Morrow Field House since Feb. 24, 2010.
 

MBB: Here is the final shot that stood as the game-winner in Cal's 94-93 win tonight. pic.twitter.com/KeLY8xjtUV

— Rock Athletics (@Rock_Athletics) January 7, 2020

The Rock had won 10 straight home games in the series and 16 of the last 17 meetings in the series against Cal U. Slippery Rock drops to 6-7 overall and 2-5 in PSAC games with the loss, while Cal improves to 8-5 overall and 4-3 in PSAC action.
 
You have to look deep into the box score to find an area of the game that led to Slippery Rock's defeat, as The Rock shot 58.5 percent from the field (31-of-53), 63.6 percent from 3-point (14-of-22) and 85.0 percent from the free throw line (17-of-20). SRU was nearly unstoppable on the offensive end of the floor in the second half, shooting 8-of-10 from 3-point and 14-of-20 from the field over the final 20 minutes. The Rock also outrebounded Cal 30-28, but the Vulcans grabbed 12 offensive rebounds and made those count, outscoring SRU 18-9 in second chance points.
 
Cal was also impressive offensively, finishing above 50 percent from the field at 51.3 percent (20-of-39), 43.3 percent from 3-point (13-of-30) and 70.0 percent from the free throw line (7-of-10). The Vulcans also capitalized on all 12 of SRU's turnovers, converting those into a 19-5 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
The visitors led 49-44 at halftime and maintained a lead midway through the second half before Slippery Rock exploded offensively. The Rock scored 33 points in less than six minutes, capped by a 13-3 run that gave SRU an 89-76 lead with 3:50 to play.
 
That lead was short-lived, however, as Cal U went on a 13-0 run over a stretch of 2:36 to tie the game at 89-89 with 1:14 to play. Slippery Rock turned the ball over on three straight possessions and Cal U scored points after all three turnovers. The Vulcans pushed the run out to 16-2 to take a 92-91 lead with 23 seconds left before Walker was fouled, setting up the final four seconds.
 
Jared Armstrong paced Slippery Rock with 26 points on a 9-of-11 shooting effort from the field that included a 6-of-7 showing from 3-point. Armstrong also handed out four assists. Deontae Robertson continued his hot streak to finish with 20 points and three blocks on 7-of-9 shooting. Robertson is 15-of-19 from the field and 7-of-9 from 3-point in his last two games.
 
Will Robinson Jr. scored 17 points, Micah Till added 12 points and Donovan Walker scored seven points and handed out seven assists.
 
Pegram led Cal U with a game-high 30 points on 10-of-18 shooting, which included an 8-of-13 showing from 3-point. Luke House scored 18 points, Zyan Collins scored 13 points and Tim Smith Jr. and Philip Alston each scored 11 points as Cal placed five players in double figures.
 
Slippery Rock will have little time to recover from the loss, as PSAC West leading and ninth ranked Indiana (Pa.) will visit Morrow Field House Wednesday night for a 7:30 p.m. tip.
 

 
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