INDIANA, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team fell into a deep hole early in the first half and never recovered in a 96-60 loss on the road at No. 9 Indiana University (Pa.) Saturday night from the Kovalchick Complex.
 
The Crimson Hawks shot better than 60 percent from the field in the first half and made 14-of-16 free throw attempts on the way to jumping out to a 56-28 halftime lead. The Rock made seven 3-pointers over the opening 20 minutes, but converted just one field goal inside the 3-point line and turned the ball over 17 times as the game slipped away early.
 
Indiana improves to 19-2 overall and 14-2 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference games while also improving to 12-0 at home this season. The Rock slip to 11-12 overall and 7-10 in PSAC games.
 
Slippery Rock never bounced back from a cold start and finished the night shooting 33.3 percent from the field (17-of-51), 42.3 percent from 3-point (11-of-26) and 75.0 percent from the free throw line (15-of-20). SRU turned the ball over a season-high 26 times and was outrebounded 35-30, a stark contrast from when SRU outrebounded IUP 46-27 in a 78-74 loss just one month ago.
 
Micah Till led The Rock with 24 points that included five made 3-pointers. Till also grabbed five rebounds.
 
Amante Britt scored 15 points and handed out three assists as the only other SRU player in double figures. Jared Armstrong chipped in eight points off the bench and Donovan Walker scored seven points.
 
Indiana shot 54.0 percent from the field (34-of-63), 45.8 percent from 3-point (11-of-24) and 85.0 percent from the free throw line (17-of-20).
 
Malik Miller led the Crimson Hawks with a game-high 28 points. Ethan Porterfield added 19 points and Armoni Foster scored 18 points.
 
Slippery Rock will look to bounce back with a pair of home games next week. Pitt-Johnstown will visit Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. tip and Seton Hill travels to SRU Saturday for a 3 p.m tip.
 


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