SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - After a week off for fall semester final exams, the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team returns to competition with its final non-conference game of the regular season 7 p.m. Tuesday at Wheeling University.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Video and live in-game statistics will be provided for Tuesday's game by Wheeling's Sports Information office.
 
GAME 7 DETAILS
Opponent: Wheeling University
Date: Tuesday – 7 p.m.
Location: McDonough Center | Wheeling, West Virginia
Live Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: Cardinals lead 2-1
Last Played: Dec. 14, 2021 (Rock won 76-71)
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
While Wheeling holds a 2-1 record against Slippery Rock all-time, SRU won the most recent meeting in the form of a 76-71 victory at home a season ago.
 
LAST MEETING
Slippery Rock overcame an 11-point second-half deficit to pull out a 76-71 victory over Wheeling Dec. 14, 2021 at Morrow Field House.
 
CURRENT ROCK PLAYERS vs. WHEELING LAST YEAR
• Jonathan McFall: 20 Points, 6 Rebounds, 2 Steals, 26 Minutes
• Amante Britt: 11 Points, 2 Rebounds, 7 Assists, 1 Steal, 36 Minutes
• Bobby Clifford: 5 Points, 5 Rebounds, 2 Assists, 1 Steal, 28 Minutes
• Lashon Lindsey: 4 Points, 8 Rebounds, 1 Assist, 1 Steal, 22 Minutes
• Dylan Ahearn: 2 Points, 2 Rebounds, 14 Minutes
• Nik Cazacu: 2 Points, 1 Rebound, 10 Minutes
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
Overall Record: 6-1
PSAC Record: 1-1
PSAC West Standings: t-2nd
D2SIDA Atlantic Region Poll: Receiving Votes
Home Record: 5-0
Away Record: 1-1
Streak: L1
Last 5 Games: 4-1
Head Coach: Ian Grady | Fifth season (57-37)
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Rock couldn't overcome a down shooting night (36.4 percent) in a 75-59 defeat at Shippensburg Dec. 3 in what was their first loss of the season.
 
BOUNCE-BACK GAME
Slippery Rock is a solid 18-15 (.545) under head coach Ian Grady in game's following a loss.
 
NON-CONFERENCE PERFECTION
A win over Wheeling would assure Slippery Rock of a perfect 6-0 non-conference record. Since the advent of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in 1951, SRU has only finished a season with a flawless non-conference record in the regular season once: the 2017-18 team also went 6-0. 
 
NON-CONFERENCE WINNING STREAK AT 7
Slippery Rock enters Tuesday's game having won its last seven non-conference games dating back December of last season. SRU's last loss outside of the PSAC was a 78-72 setback on the road Nov. 27, 2021 against Charleston – a defeat that The Rock avenged earlier this season courtesy of a 73-59 victory over UC.
 
Since the official formation of the PSAC, Slippery Rock has had only five longer non-conference winning streaks than its current streak.
 
SRU's Longest Non-Conference Winning Streaks (Since 1951)
1: 13 games (1972-73 / 1973-74)
2: 12 games (2008-09 / 2009-10)
3: 11 games (1973-74 / 1974-75)
4: 9 games (1989-90 / 1990-91)
5: 8 games (2007-08 / 2008-09)
 
THE ROCK vs. THE MEC
Since the Mountain East Conference's formation in 2013, Slippery Rock is 11-7 (.611) against MEC teams. SRU is 3-0 against MEC teams already this year via wins over Alderson Broaddus (68-62), Notre Dame (82-72) and Charleston (73-59).
 
WINNING RECIPE ON DEFENSE
A large portion of The Rock's early success can be attributed to possessing one of the most grueling defenses in the Atlantic Region. Simply put, SRU does not allow teams to score efficiently while limiting opponent offensive rebounding and forcing a healthy number of turnovers.
 
Through five games, Slippery Rock ranks second in the PSAC  in blocks per game (4.43) and averages 18.6 points off turnovers per game all the while ranking towards the top of the PSAC in virtually every other meaningful statistical category.
 
SRU PSAC Defensive Rankings
Points Per Game Allowed: 5th (67.4)
Field Goal % Defense: 4th (.414)
3PT Field Goal % Defense: 5th (.312)
Rebounding Margin: 4th (+4.9)
Turnovers Forced Per Game: 7th (16.1)
Blocks: 2nd (4.4)
Points Off Turnovers Per Game: 18.6 (Not tracked by PSAC office, but up from last year's average of 16.2)
 
EXPLOSIVE TRIO
Slippery Rock's offensive attack is led by one of the top scoring trios throughout the entire 18-team PSAC in Amante Britt, Khalid Gates and Jonathan McFall, who combine to average 49.6 points per game.
 
Top Scoring Trios in the PSAC
1: Keith Palek III, Cam Polak, Jermaine Hall Jr. (Cal): 52.0
2: Shawndale Jones, Dave Morris, Tomiwa Sulaiman (IUP): 49.7
3: Amante Britt, Khalid Gates, Jonathan McFall (ROCK): 49.6
4: Mekhi Reynolds, Gerald Jarmon, Cam Kearney (CLAR): 47.9
5: Lakeem McAliley, Carlos Pepin, Justin Paz (ESU): 47.7
 
8 IN A ROW FOR BRITT
Dating back to the final game of last season, Britt has now made a 3-pointer in eight consecutive games. Over the last 14 year of SRU basketball, there have only been eight longer streaks by a Rock athlete.
 
Consecutive Games with a Made 3-Pointer (Since 2008-09)
1: John Warren II: 23 (2018-19)
2: Michael Evans Jr.: 21 (2008-09 / 2009-10)
3: Darious Clark: 13 (2012-13)
t4: Jared Armstrong: 12 (2018-19 / 2019-20)
t4: Bubby Goodwin: 12 (2014-15)
6: Jon Valeriano: 10 (2011-12)
t7: Kyyree Wooten: 9 (2017-18)
t7: Darious Clark: 9 (2012-13)
t9: 8 (10 times including Britt's active streak)
 
THE ROCK ROTATION
Through its first seven games, Slippery Rock has seven players in its rotation that play at least 19 minutes per game in Britt (29.9), McFall (28.3), Gates (25.6), Ahmad Galimore (24.7), Bobby Clifford (23.9), Lashon Lindsey (22.3) and Jomo Goings (19.1).
 
· Britt leads the way with 18.6 points per game. The Rock's veteran point guard is one of the most efficient top scorers in the PSAC as he shoots 50.5 percent from the field overall, 40.6 percent from 3-point range and 77.3 percent at foul line.

· Britt, who has scored no fewer than 13 points in a game this season, also averages 1.4 steals per game on the defensive end of the floor.

· Gates has more than lived up to the lofty expectations that comes with being a former JUCO All-American as he has started all seven games while averaging 15.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and just under one block a game while shooting 53.8 percent from the field and 76 percent at the foul line.

· Over the last five games, Gates has shined with per game averages of 19 points and 6.6 rebounds.

· McFall has proved his stellar junior campaign at The Rock in 2021-22 was no fluke as he has opened his senior year scoring 15.3 points per game while pulling in 4.9 rebounds a night all the while ranking second on the team in both total steals (10) and blocks (5) in addition to shooting 53.4 percent from the field overall and 82.1 percent at free throw line.
 
· After making just five 3-pointers on 40 attempts a year ago, McFall has already connected on six 3-pointers this season in half the attempts.

· Britt, Gates and McFall shoot a combined 52.4 percent from the field (132-of-252).
 
· The Rock's first forward off the bench most nights, Lashon Lindsey has displayed his versatility this year by not only scoring 6.4 ppg, pulling in 4.9 rpg and blocking five shots as one would expect from a post player but also leading SRU with 12 steals (1.7 per game) and distributing just under one assist a contest.

· Galimore does a little bit of everything for SRU. A starter in six of seven games, the redshirt sophomore posts per game averages of 5.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals while blocking five shots.

· Clifford joins Britt and Gates as a starter in all seven games this season. He scores 4.0 points per game while registering 4.3 rebounds a night. After making only six of his first 21 field goal attempts (.285) in SRU's opening four games, he has gone 6-for-13 (.462) in the last three games, including a 3-for-5 showing 3-point range.

· Goings serves as The Rock's fourth leading scorer at 7.3 points per game.

· Alex Griggs and Nik Cazacu have both appeared in all seven games as well in limited roles. Griggs, a freshman point guard, has committed just two turnovers in his last five games played (55 minutes), while Cazacu pulls down 2.6 rebounds per game over his 7.3 minutes a contest.
 
· After missing several games due to injury, 3-point specialist Dylan Ahearn returned to the rotation last weekend. He has made two of his last three 3-point attempts in previous three games played.

ROCK AMONG THE PSAC'S BEST
• Scoring: Amante Britt – 3rd (18.6)
• Field Goal %: Khalid Gates – 7th (.538)
• Field Goal %: Jonathan McFall – 8th (.534)
• Made Free Throws: Jonathan McFall – 12th (23)
• Steals: Lashon Lindsey – 12th (1.7)
• Field Goal %: ante Britt – 13th (.505)
• Offensive Rebounding: Khalid Gates – 14th (2.1)
• Free Throw %: Jonathan McFall – 14th (.821)
 
GOINGS LOGS FIRST START
Redshirt sophomore Jomo Goings made the first start of his collegiate career in The Rock's win against Shepherd on Dec. 2. Goings played 20 minutes in the victory, scoring 10 points while grabbing three rebounds and making one steal.
 
GRADY MOVES UP ROCK WINS CHART
The Rock's 79-74 victory over Shepherd marked the 57th win of head coach Ian Grady's career, tying him for seventh place for wins in a career at The Rock alongside Anthony Jones (1995-2002).
 
Overall, there have been 20 coaches in program history. Of those 20, nine coached at least 100 games at SRU. With six games to go before his 100th game, Grady already has the fourth most wins of any coach in program history through their first 100 games.  
 
Wins in first 100 games at SRU
N. Kerr Thompson: 75-25 (.750)
Kevin Reynolds: 65-35 (.650)
Hank Baierl: 59-41 (.590)
Ian Grady: 57-37 (.606)
Bob Smiley: 52-48 (.520)
Dave Rooney: 43-57 (.430)
Bob Barlett: 42-58 (.420)
Doug Zimmerman: 40-60 (.400)
Anthony Jones: 25-75 (.250)
John Marhefka: 24-76 (.240)
 
BRITT AND LINDSEY AMONG ROCK'S ALL-TIME BEST
The veteran duo of Britt and Lindsey currently find themselves ranked among the all-time Rock greats in several career statistical categories.
 
SRU Career Blocks (No. 14-18)
14: Troy Miller (1991-94): 59
t15: Jade Burka (2007-11): 57
t15: Bill Johnson (1987-90): 57
17: Lashon Lindsey (2019-SA): 55
18: Chuck Link (1974-78): 48
 
SRU Career Assists (No. 6-10)
6: Myron Brown (1987-91): 299
7: Brent Schrempf (1993-95): 293
8: Todd Baker (1986-89): 282
9: Amante Britt (2018-SA): 279
10: Louie Moore (1997-00): 275
 
SRU Career Steals (No. 6-10)
6: Jamar Scales (2005-09): 138
7: Troy Mild (1980-84): 129
8: Micah Till (2017-20): 127
9: William Johnson (2002-05): 117
10: Amante Britt (2018-SA): 114
 
SRU Career Minutes Played (No. 6-10)
6: Dave Freeman (1998-03): 2,740
7: Tabari Perry (2010-14): 2,701
8: Amante Britt (2018-SA): 2,504
9: Jamar Scales (2005-09): 2,484
10: Louie Moore (1997-00): 2,411
 
SRU Career 3-Pointers Made (No. 11-15)
11: Eroll Robinson (2005-09): 87
12: Frankie Hughes (2021-22): 85
13: Micah Till (2017-20): 84
14: Donald Burnett (1990-91, 96-97): 83
15: Amante Britt (2018-SA): 82
 
WHEELING PRIMER
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
Overall Record: 1-8
MEC Record: 0-6
MEC Standings: 12th
D2SIDA Atlantic Region Poll: N/A
Home Record: 1-3
Away Record: 0-3
Neutral Site Record: 0-2
Streak: L6
Last 5 Games: 0-5
Head Coach: Chris Richardson | Third season (17-40)
 
WHEELING RESULTS (Last 5)
Nov. 22 vs. Alderson Broaddus – L, 79-75
Nov. 30 vs. Davis & Elkins – L, 77-75
Dec. 3 at West Virginia Wesleyan – L, 89-87
Dec. 7 at West Virginia State – L, 92-84
Dec. 10 at Charleston – L, 72-70
 
CARDINAL STAT LEADERS
SCORING: Marcus Johnson (17.2), John Korte (17.0)
3-POINTERS MADE: Brent Price (18), Johnson (12)
REBOUNDING: Korte (6.3), Price (5.9)
ASSISTS: Price (2.8), Johnson (1.8)
BLOCKS: Johnson (0.6), Kevin Coleman Jr. (0.6)
STEALS: Johnson (1.4), Korte (1.3)
 
WHEELING TEAM STATS (MEC Rank / 12 Teams)
Points Per Game: 75.7 (10th)
Opponent Points Per Game: 79.7 (7th)
Field Goal %: .458 (6th)
Opponent Field Goal %: .468 (7th)
3PT Field Goal %: .354 (5th)
3PT Made Per Game: 7.8 (7th)
3PT Opponent Field Goal %: .356 (7th)
FT Field Goal %: .731 (4th)
FT Made Per Game: 13.9 (NA)
Rebounding Margin: -1.1 (9th)
Turnovers Per Game: 16.6 (10th)
Turnover Margin: -2.3 (9th)
 
CURRENT WHEELING PLAYERS vs. SRU LAST YEAR
• Andrew Taylor: 9 Points, 8 Rebounds, 1 Steal, 34 Minutes
• Brent Price: 13 Points, 3 Rebounds, 1 Steal, 34 Minutes
• Trey Stoffer: 6 Points, 3 Rebounds, 2 Assists, 19 Minutes
• William Gabbert: 2 Points, 2 Rebounds, 8 Minutes
• Zion Suddeth: 3 Points, 5 Minutes
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock returns to PSAC competition when it hosts back-to-back crossover games at Morrow Field House against Eastern Division counterparts Mansfield University (Dec. 18 / 3 p.m.) and Bloomsburg University (Dec. 19 / 3 p.m.)
 
 
 
 
 
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