SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team improved to 3-0 on the season with a dominant second-half performance that led to a 105-70 victory over Penn State University Greater Allegheny Wednesday at Morrow Field House.
 
SRU's perfect record marks the first time that The Rock has started a season 3-0 since 2009-10 and is also just the eighth time that Slippery Rock has won its first three games of a season since joining NCAA Division II.
 
The Rock jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead over the Lions (2-7), but any thoughts of an early blowout were put to rest as Penn State Greater Allegheny responded by going on a 33-18 run over the following 12 minutes to take an unexpected 33-25 lead with 5:24 left in the first half.
 
However, in a preview of things to come, SRU finished the opening 20 minutes strong and it cut the Lions' lead to 41-40 heading into the halftime break.
 
The second half was all Slippery Rock as SRU held Penn State Greater Allegheny to just six points over the first six minutes to completely erase its deficit and take an 11-point lead of its own at 58-47. The Rock went on to close the game out by growing their advantage to as many as 35 points en route to the 105-70 win.
 
Slippery Rock made 63.4 percent of its field goal attempts in the second half on the way to scoring 65 points over the final 20 minutes in what was its highest point total in a half since scoring 66 in the second half of a 143-70 victory against Ohio University Eastern on Dec. 19, 2017.
 
The Rock closed the non-conference victory shooting 54.7 percent (41-of-75) from the field overall despite a 5-for-18 showing from 3-point range. SRU also shot 75 percent (18-of-24) at the foul line.
 
Slippery Rock, which entered the game as the nation's leader in blocked shots per game, produced a season-high nine blocks while holding advantages over the Lions in rebounding (46-37), assists (14-6), bench scoring (33-29), fastbreak points (23-12) and second chance points (18-8). SRU forced Penn State Allegheny into 17 miscues which translated into 26 points off turnvoers.
 
13 players saw playing time for The Rock Wednesday. Khalid Gates led the with a 23-point, 6-rebound, one-block, one-steal performance. Gates went 9-of-14 from the field and 5-of-8 from the foul line while five of his six rebounds came on the offensive glass.
 
Amante Britt recorded his second straight 20-point game while also collecting three steals. Reigning Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division Athlete of the Week Jonathan McFall added 18 points, four rebounds and two steals as well.
 
Jomo Goings came off the bench to go for eight points, six rebounds, two steals and one block while fellow reserve Lashon Lindsey grabbed eight rebounds and scored six points all the while blocking three shots, making three steals and dishing out three assists.
 
Ahmad Galimore dished out a game-high five assists in addition to tallying seven rebounds and two blocks. Bobby Clifford and Nik Cazacu scored six points apiece with Cazacu also grabbing six rebounds.
 
Rounding out SRU's contributors in the win were Alex Griggs (5 points), Dylan Ahearn (3 points), Bryon Ottrix (3 points, 1 assist), Trey Metzka (2 points) and Colin McQuiston (1 assist, 1 block).
 
Penn State Greater Allegheny was paced by Jeremiah Miller, who just missed out on a double-double with 14 points and eight rebounds. As a team, the Lions shot 38.4 percent from the field overall (28-of-73), 17.9 percent from 3-point range (5-of-28) and 75 percent (9-of-12) at the foul line.
 
Slippery Rock breaks for the weekend before hosting Daemen University for a non-conference contest 4 p.m. Nov. 22 at Morrow Field House.





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