SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team earned a gritty 60-52 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference victory over Bloomsburg University Monday at Morrow Field House.
 
With the win, Slippery Rock's record improves to 9-1 overall and 3-1 inside the PSAC while its home winning streak at Morrow Field House increases to 10 consecutive games. Bloomsburg drops to 0-8 overall and 0-4 in the PSAC following the loss.  
 
The Rock's 9-1 record is tied for the third best 10-game start to a season in the program's 112-year history. Only the 1923-24 and 2009-10 teams had better records through 10 games at 10-0 while the 1924-25, 1952-53, 1963-64 and 1990-91 teams also opened the year at 9-1.
 
Bobby Clifford scored a game-high 13 points to lead SRU's offense Monday. Clifford who has scored 27 points over The Rock's last two games, went 5-for-10 from the field overall, 2-for-5 from 3-point territory and 1-for-2 at the foul line on the way to game-high scoring honors.
 
Khalid Gates and Ahmad Galimore both just missed out on double-doubles in the win. Gates went for 12 points, eight rebounds, one block and one steal while Galimore collected seven points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. The duo also combined to grab 10 of SRU's season-high 25 offensive rebounds. Fellow starter Lashon Lindsey totaled five points, eight rebounds, five assists and one block.
 
SRU's reserve quartet of Jomo Goings, Jonathan McFall, Alex Griggs and Dylan Ahearn all played significant roles in the win as well.
 
Goings registered an eight-point, six-rebound, two-steal game. McFall pulled down seven rebounds. Griggs collected three steals and scored six points in addition to passing out two assists while Ahearn rounded the scoring with five points.
 
Offense was at a premium Monday. While The Rock shot just 31.4 percent (22-of-70) from the field overall, 22.2 percent (6-of-27) from deep and 62.5 percent (10-of-16) at the free throw line to go with 15 turnovers, they ultimately earned the victory on the defensive end of the floor where SRU forced Bloomsburg into 20 turnovers and a 34.5 field goal percentage (19-of-55).
 
Slippery Rock parlayed its huge game on the offensive glass into 19 second chance points in addition to scoring 18 points off Bloomsburg turnovers.
 
The Rock also held a +14 rebounding margin (51-37). SRU's 25 offensive rebounds serves as its highest total against a Division II team since Jan. 6, 2018 when The Rock had 26 against California (Pa.) – a stretch of 110 games.
 
SRU and the Huskies traded baskets for the opening nine minutes as The Rock took a slight 12-10 lead before scoring 16 of the following 20 points to stretch their advantage out to 14 points with 2:24 left in the half.
 
Bloomsburg mounted a mini rally which cut its deficit down to eight points at 30-22 heading into the break.
 
The Rock's aggressive defense limited the Huskies to only nine points over the opening 11:24 of the second half. Meanwhile, seven different Rock athletes scored during the same stretch of, led by five points from Goings, as SRU was able to build up a seemingly safe 18-point, 49-31, lead with 8:36 left to play.
 
The upset-minded Huskies proceeded to rattle off a 21-7 run of their own which cut The Rock's lead all the way down to just four points with 1:07 showing on the clock.
 
However, SRU withstood the late comeback bid and preserved the conference victory by holding Bloomsburg without a basket for the final 67 seconds of regulation to go with two points apiece by Gates and McFall.
 
Jake Nelson had a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds for Bloomsburg while Cam Villarouel scored 13 points.
 
Slippery Rock will take to the road when it returns to competition 7:30 p.m. Dec. 30 at East Stroudsburg University. The Rock earned an 81-73 victory over the Warriors, a perennial Atlantic Region power, a year ago at Morrow Field House.






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