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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Following a 16-day break between games, the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team will look to continue its winning ways and pick up a seventh consecutive victory when it hosts Pitt-Johnstown 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Morrow Field House. 
 
COVID-19 FAN INFORMATION (MORROW FIELD HOUSE)
• Fans should not attend any events if you are experiencing any symptoms or feeling ill.
• Masks are REQUIRED inside all buildings on the SRU campus, regardless of vaccination status.
• Fans are encouraged to social distance when possible at events.
 
TICKET PRICES
Adult General Admission - $10.00
Visiting PSAC Student with ID - $5.00
Age 6 to High School - $5.00
Under 6 Years Old - FREE
*Alumni Discount with Current Alumni Membership Card $2.00 off General Admission Only
 
WATCH ON YOUR TV - "ROCK ATHLETICS DIGITAL NETWORK" APPS
• Fans can watch Wednesday's game this weekend live and on-demand for free on the Rock Athletics Digital Network, created and operated by the SRU athletic communication office.
 
• Search for Rock Athletics Digital Network in the app stores on Amazon Fire TV, Apple RV, Roku and Android TV devices. The streaming web player linked above will also integrate with Chrome Cast devices to allow viewers to cast the game to those devices.
 
GAME 12 DETAILS
Opponent: Pitt-Johnstown
Date: Jan. 5 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Morrow Field House
Live Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: UPJ leads 37-21
Last Played: March 2, 2020 (UPJ won 85-78)
 
ALL-TIME SERIES vs. PITT-JOHNSTOWN
Pitt-Johnstown holds a 37-21 record over The Rock in the all-time series which dates back to the 1972-73 season. SRU has won its last three home games against UPJ and is 17-11 all-time when hosting the Mountain Cats at Morrow Field House.
 
LAST MEETING vs. PITT-JOHNSTOWN
Slippery Rock erased a 16-point second-half deficit to pull even with the Mountain Cats, but was ultimately unable to complete the comeback as Pitt-Johnstown ended The Rock's 2019-20 season with an 85-78 victory over SRU on March 2, 2020 in the first round of the PSAC Tournament.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Record: 9-2
PSAC Record: 5-0
PSAC West Standings: First
Home Record: 7-1
Away Record: 2-1
Streak: W6
Last Five Games: 5-0
Head Coach: Ian Grady | Fourth year at SRU (43-26)
 
WHERE WE LEFT OFF
Slippery Rock closed the opening portion of its 2021-22 season by winning six straight games to improve to 9-2 on the season overall and a perfect 5-0 in Pennsylvania State Athletic conference games.
 
The Rock has gone 7-1 in games played at Morrow Field House and 2-1 in road contests.
 
SRU opens its PSAC West slate ranked sixth in the nation in offensive rebounding (15.4 orpg) and 17th in scoring (86.5 ppg) in addition to ranking second in the PSAC in turnover margin (+4.4), second in turnovers per game (11.5), third in scoring margin (+13.1), third in made 3-pointers (86), third in rebounding margin (+7.5) and third in blocks (52).
 
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART (AND WINS) ARE
Few teams in the Atlantic Region dominate at home like SRU does at Morrow Field House. Since 2008-09, Slippery Rock is an outstanding 138-40 (.775) at home.
 
STREAKING
The Rock's current six-game winning streak is the fourth winning streak of at least four games under head coach Ian Grady. Included in The Rock's winning streaks under Grady is a 12-game surge during the 2018-19 season that serves as the third longest winning streak in program history. Dating back to 1990-91 (31 seasons), the current winning streak is the fifth longest stretch of consecutive wins at The Rock.
 
HISTORY MAKING START
If Slippery Rock defeats Pitt-Johnstown it would tie this year's team for the second-best 12-game start to a season in the modern era of Rock basketball (post World War II). Only the 2009-10 team would have a better record in its first 12 games at 11-1.
 
Record in first 12 games (Since 1945)
2009-10: 11-1
2017-18: 10-2
2014-15: 10-2
1971-72: 10-2
1963-64: 10-2
1952-53: 10-2
1945-46: 10-2
 
ROCK OUT TO PERFECT START IN PSAC SLATE
Slippery Rock enters Wednesday's game with a spotless 5-0 record in the PSAC courtesy of crossover wins over East Stroudsburg, Mansfield, Bloomsburg, Kutztown and West Chester. A victory over UPJ would mark just the second time in program history that SRU has won its first six conference games, joining the 1989-90 team which went a perfect 12-0 in PSAC games.
 
ROCK SOLID IN PSAC WEST OPENERS
Over the last 12 seasons, Slippery Rock is 9-3 in its first PSAC West game of the season including a perfect 2-0 record under head coach Ian Grady following wins in 2018-19 vs. Seton Hill (71-67) and 2019-20 at Clarion (73-46). All three of The Rock's losses in PSAC West openers during the timespan have come away from Morrow Field House.
 
CALM AND COOL AT THE FOUL LINE
In 11 games this season, Slippery Rock is shooting a respectable 72 percent at the foul line which is good enough to rank seventh in the PSAC. However, over the last three games SRU has excelled at the line, going 37-of-44 at the line - a 84.1 percent clip. The trio of Jonathan McFall (11-of-11), Tyler Frederick (9-of-11) and Frankie Hughes (8-of-10) have combined to go 28-of-32 (.875) to lead the way.
 
McFALL ONE OF A KIND
Jonathan McFall is quickly establishing himself as one of the top all-round threats in the PSAC West. The crafty scorer has been on a tear of late with at least 20 points in three of The Rock's last five games.
 
One of the most active players around the rim in the PSAC, McFall not only averages 6.0 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals per game, but he is also The Rock's leading scorer at 17.2 points per game on an extremely efficient .585 field goal percentage and .938 free throw percentage.
 
No other player in the PSAC averages at least 17 points, 6 rebounds, 1 block and 1 steal per game while shooting above 50 percent from the field and 80 percent at the foul line.
 
BIG TIME POINT GUARD MATCH ON TAP
Wednesday's game features two of the top point guards in not only the PSAC, but the entire Atlantic Region in UPJ's Fred Mulbah and The Rock's Amante Britt. Over 34.5 minutes per game, Mulbah has averaged 14.4 points, 7.5 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals while committing 3.5 turnovers per game. Not to be outdone, Britt averages 12.7 points, 5.6 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game in addition to just 2.5 turnovers per game. Britt also holds a 14-6 edge over Mulbah in made 3-pointers.
 
18 IN A ROW FOR McFALL
An excellent free throw shooter as evidenced by his .938 (30-32) showing at the foul line this season, Jonathan McFall heads into the UPJ game having made 18 straight free throws, which ranks fifth in program history behind Larry Deemer (45, 1969-70), Cornelius Brown (30, 2015-16), Devin Taylor (28, 2011-12/13) and Naquil Jones (24, 2016-17).
 
HUGHES LEADS PSAC IN 3's
Through 11 games, Frankie Hughes has made a PSAC-high 27 3-pointers this season. The long range threat averages 2.5 made 3-pointers per game this season and has been held without a triple just twice this year. Overall, Hughes is second on the team in scoring at 15.8 ppg while also tallying 2.1 steals and 4.6 rebounds per game.
 
PSAC Made 3-Pointer Leaders
Frankie Hughes (Slippery Rock): 27
MiyKah McIntosh (Mercyhurst): 25
Dan McClain-Corley (Shepherd): 24
Cam Stephens (Shepherd): 24
Brent Pegram (Cal U): 23
 
TWO-HEADED MONSTER INSIDE
Forwards Tyler Frederick and Lashon Lindsey have split time this season with Frederick starting seven games and playing 25.6 minutes per contest and Lindsey earing four starts and 20.5 minutes per game of playing time. Together, the duo averages 19.7 points, 15.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Individually, Frederick nearly averages a double-double at 13.4 points and 9.1 rebounds while Lindsey has supplied 10 blocks and 6.7 rebounds a night.
 
The pair will likely alternate in matching up against either UPJ's post players Caiden Landis (6-7, 230) or returning All-PSAC West forward John Paul Kromka who has averaged 16.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in five career games against Slippery Rock.
 
BREAKOUT GAME FOR CLIFFORD
Bobby Clifford enjoyed the best game of his young career in The Rock's 86-81 win over West Chester on Dec. 19. Clifford went 7-10 from the field and a perfect 3-3 from 3-point range on the way to a career-high 17 points all the while grabbing six rebounds and blocking one shot.
 
Clifford has started all 11 games as redshirt freshman with per game averages of 7.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists in addition to ranking third on the team in blocks with six.
 
ROUNDING OUT THE ROTATION
The duo of Dylan Ahearn and Nik Cazacu round out The Rock's standard rotation. Just a freshman, Ahearn averages 4.3 ppg thanks in part to 10 3-pointers. A veteran of the program, Cazacu has appeared in 48 games at SRU including all 11 games this season with per game averages of 3.2 points and 2.2 rebounds.
 
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF MISTAKES
Slippery Rock, which has forced opponents into 15.8 turnovers per game this season, has done a great job of converting its opponent miscues into points. Through 11 games, SRU has averaged 18.6 points off turnovers per game.
 
If The Rock are able to maintain that average through the rest of the season it would top the previous program record of 17.8 points off of turnovers per game set by the 2018-19 team. SRU began tracking points off turnover as a statistic in 2014-15.
 
WHO SAYS THERE'S NO SECOND CHANCES IN LIFE?
The Rock has been able to score 15.9 second chance points per game. Over the last seven seasons only the 2017-18 (17.6) and 2014-15 (16.9) teams have scored more second chance points per game.
 
TAKE CARE OF THE BALL, WIN THE GAME
SRU is 8-1 when committing fewer turnovers than its opponent.
 
GRADY MOVING UP WIN CHART
Slippery Rock head coach Ian Grady will open the PSAC West portion of the 2021-22 schedule with a stellar career record of 43-26 (.623). He is currently tied for second place along with Gary Manhcel (Mercyhurst / 2003-06) among all 18 active PSAC coaches for victories in their first three full seasons at their current schools. West Chester's Damien Blair (2008-11) currently ranks first among active PSAC coaches for wins in their first three years at their current schools at 48.
 
PITT-JOHNSTOWN PRIMER
Season Stats: Link
Record: 8-3
PSAC Record: 4-1
PSAC East Standings: T2
Home Record: 3-2
Away Record: 3-1
Neutral Site Record: 2-0
Streak: W1
Last Five Games: 4-1
Head Coach: Bob Rukavina | 32nd year at UPJ (515-356)
 
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAIN CATS
A veteran team, UPJ's roster consists of eight players that played for the Mountain Cats during the 2019-20 season including standouts John Paul Kromka and Fred Mulbah. Kromka goes for 16.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game while Mulbah distributes a league-best 7.5 apg while scoring 14.4 ppg.
 
Three other UPJ players average at least 10.7 ppg in Joe Batt (11.5), Drew Magestro (11.5) and Ryan Smith (10.7). 
 
As a team, the Mountain Cats lead the PSAC in 3-point shooting percentage at .397 in addition to ranking second in overall field goal percentage (.510), fourth in opponent field goal percentage (.409). UPJ scores 81.9 ppg while allowing 73.0 ppg, both of which ranking seventh in the PSAC.
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock closes out its season-long six-game homestand 3 p.m. Saturday vs. Clarion.
 




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