SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team earned a 78-71 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference victory over Mansfield University Sunday at Morrow Field House.
 
The win improves The Rock's record to 8-1 overall and 2-1 inside the PSAC. Additionally, Sunday's win marked SRU's ninth consecutive victory at Morrow Field House dating back to the end of the 2021-22 season. Mansfield drops to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in league games following the defeat.
 
While Mansfield was able to keep the meeting of PSAC Western and Eastern division teams close throughout the majority of the game, Slippery Rock ultimately led for over 38 minutes of the 40-minute contest.
 
Sunday's win was a well-rounded effort that saw five Rock players finish in double figures. Khalid Gates led the way with a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double that included three assists, two blocks and one steal. Gates, who went 8-for-15 from the field overall, accounted for five offensive rebounds. Over the last seven games, Gates has averaged 18.7 points on a .577 field goal percentage and 6.9 rebounds per game.
 
Bobby Clifford had his best game of the season, finishing with 14 points, six rebounds and one assist while Lashon Lindsey just missed out on his second double-double in as many games following a 13-point, 8-rebound, two-steal effort.
 
Jonathan McFall and Amante Britt produced 11 points. McFall came off the bench to go an efficient 4-for-6 from the field overall in addition to blocking two shots and corralling three rebounds.
 
In addition to his ninth double-digit scoring performance of the season, Britt also had a team-best three steals, which helped him move past William Johnson (2002-05) for the ninth-highest career steal total in program history at 118.
 
Rounding out The Rock's contributors in the win was Jomo Goings with six points and three rebounds.
 
SRU led by as many as 13 points midway through the first half before the Mountaineers went on a 15-6 run over the closing five minutes of the period to cut Slippery Rock's lead to just four points at 41-37 heading into the halftime break.
 
Slippery Rock came out of the locker room to score 15 of the opening 20 points of the second half, which in turn stretched its advantage out to 56-42 with 14:43 left in regulation. McFall accounted for the final points of the run.

To their credit, the Mountaineers refused to go away as they proceeded to methodically cut into The Rock's sizable lead, eventually trimming their deficit to as little as two points on two sperate occasions. However, any thoughts of a road upset for the Mountaineers were put to rest by Slippery Rock down the stretch.
 
Leading 70-68 with 3:36 left to play, The Rock closed out the victory by limiting Mansfield to just three points on 1-of-4 shooting to go with three turnovers over the remainder of the game all the while converting 4-of-5 free throws of their own over the final 36 seconds to preserve the 78-71 win.
 
Slippery Rock closed the game shooting 48.4 percent (31-of-64) from the field overall, 31.6 percent (7-of-22) from 3-point range and 69.2 percent (9-of-13) at the foul line. SRU was able to score 14 points off 15 Mansfield turnovers while making the most of its 14 offensive rebounds in the form of 17 second chance points.
 
While Mansfield was held to a field goal percentage of just .369 (24-of-65), it was able to connect on eight 3-pointers and take advantage of a 22-13 edge in free throw attempts courtesy of 15 successful foul shots. Thanks in no small part to 18 offensive rebounds, the most surrendered by SRU this season, the Mountaineers were able to hold a slight +1 (40-39) rebounding margin.
 
Saraj Ali had a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double while Idris Ali scored 17 points to lead the Mansfield attack.
 
Slippery Rock returns to competition 3 p.m. Monday when it hosts Bloomsburg University in another PSAC crossover game at Morrow Field House.
 
 



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