SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Led by a 27-point, 10-rebound double-double from Frankie Hughes, the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team pushed its winning streak to five games and remained undefeated in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference competition with an 85-73 win over Kutztown University Saturday at Morrow Field House.
 
The home victory improves SRU's record to 8-2 overall and a spotless 4-0 in league games. The eight wins through 10 games is the fifth-best start to a season in program history. Additionally, the five-game winning streak is the second longest string of consecutive victories under head coach Ian Grady.
 
SRU is now 138-40 in games played at Morrow Field House dating back to the 2008-09 season.
 
Saturday's loss snapped Kutztown's two-game winning streak, dropping the Golden Bears' record to 4-5 overall and 1-2 in the PSAC.
 
Hughes was great in every facet of the game Saturday. After being mired in shooting slump from 3-point range for the past several games, he connected on 7-of-12 attempts from distance on the way to matching his career-high point total.
 
The seven successful 3-pointers are tied for the fifth most in a single-game at Morrow Field House overall and is the second highest total against a Division II team behind only Michael Evans' eight triples against Ashland in 2008-09.  
In addition to his game-high point total and 10 rebounds, five of which came on the offensive glass, Hughes also passed out five assists and made two steals over 36 minutes.
 
Amante Britt was The Rock's second leading scorer with 16 points all the while guiding the offense with six assists, making two steals and even blocking one shot. Jonathan McFall also finished in double figures as part of a solid all-around 12-point, four-block, two-steal effort.
 
Tyler Frederick needed only 22 minutes to nearly record a double-double as the senior forward scored eight points and grabbed a game-best 13 rebounds, including six offensive boards. Fellow forward Lashon Lindsey supplemented Frederick's night by coming off the bench to go for eight points, eight rebounds and one block.
 
Slippery Rock led for 39:11 of a possible 40 minutes Saturday as an 8-0 run highlighted by 3-pointers to start the game from Hughes and Britt gave SRU an early advantage it never surrendered.
 
SRU built its lead out to 18 points at 33-15 with 7:36 left in the opening 20 minutes before Kutztown ended the half on an 18-4 run to cut The Rock's advantage down to 37-33 heading into the break.
 
However, any thoughts of a Golden Bear comeback were dashed coming out of the locker rooms courtesy of an impressive 21-6 Rock surge which stretched SRU's lead out to 59-39 with 13:47 left in regulation. Hughes led the game-deciding run with 11 points over the stretch with nine of his points coming off of 3-point attempts.
 
Kutztown managed to trim its deficit down to 12 points on four separate occasions over the remainder of the game, but never truly threatened SRU's lead as The Rock cruised to their fifth double-digit victory of the season.
 
Despite facing a considerable size disadvantage, Slippery Rock still ended the game with a +2 rebounding margin (38-36). SRU also shot 46.2 percent (30-of-65) from the field as a team including a season-best 44.8 percent (13-of-29) showing from 3-point territory and a nearly perfect 92.3 percent (12-of-13) performance at the free throw line.
 
SRU compiled 16 points off of 15 Kutztown turnovers. The Golden Bears shot a healthy 43.8 percent (7-of-16) from 3-point range and 80 percent (12-of-15) at the free throw line, but were just 27-of-64 (42.2 percent) from the field overall. Wesley Butler led Kutztown with 23 points.
 
Rounding out The Rock's top performers versus Kutztown were Bobby Clifford (five points, four rebounds, one steal), Dylan Ahearn (six points, one steal) and Nik Cazacu (three points).
 
Britt's six assists moved him past Dave Johnson (2001-04) and Montez Briggs (1999-01) and into 18th place in program history in career assists with 195.
 
Slippery Rock will look to continue its winning ways when it hosts West Chester University for another PSAC crossover bout 3 p.m. Sunday.
 





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