SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team will face one of its toughest tests of the season when it travels across the state for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference game at East Stroudsburg University 7:30 p.m. Friday.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Video and live in-game statistics for Friday's game will be provided free of charge by the East Stroudsburg Athletic Communications office at the below links.
 
GAME 11 DETAILS
Opponent: East Stroudsburg University
Date: Friday – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Koehler Fieldhouse | East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Live Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: ESU leads 17-5
Last Played: Nov. 20, 2021 (SRU won 81-73)
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
While East Stroudsburg holds a 17-5 all-time record against The Rock, SRU won the most recent meeting between the two teams in the form of an 81-73 victory at Morrow Field House a year ago. A win on Friday would mark SRU's first win on ESU's home floor.
 
LAST MEETING
Behind a dominant second half in which The Rock shot over 60 percent from the field and held a +11 scoring margin, SRU defeated East Stroudsburg, 81-73, at Morrow Field House on Nov. 20, 2021. Amante Britt led five Rock players in double figures with a game-high 22 points while Lashon Lindsey finished just shy of a double-double following a 10-point, nine-rebound, three-block, two steal performance.
 
THE ROCK vs. ESU LAST YEAR
• Amante Britt: 22 Points, 4 Assists, 1 Steal, 34 Minutes
• Lashon Lindsey: 10 Points, 9 Rebounds, 3 Blocks, 2 Steals, 31 Minutes
• Jomo Goings: 10 Points, 6 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 3 Steals, 30 Minutes
• Jonathan McFall: 8 Points, 4 Rebounds, 1 Steal, 21 Minutes
• Bobby Clifford: 2 Points, 3 Rebounds, 2 Assists, 12 Minutes
• Dylan Ahearn: 1 Assist, 1 Steal, 11 Minutes
• Nik Cazacu: 1 Assist, 1 Block, 6 Minutes
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Season Stats: Link
Overall Record: 9-1
PSAC Record: 3-1
PSAC West Standings: t-2nd
D2SIDA Atlantic Region Poll: 8th
Home Record: 7-0
Away Record: 2-1
Streak: W3
Last 5 Games: 4-1
Head Coach: Ian Grady | Fifth season (60-37)

LAST TIME OUT
A strong defensive performance allowed Slippery Rock to close out a perfect 3-0 week with a 60-52 PSAC victory over Bloomsburg Dec. 19 at Morrow Field House.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK ON THE RADAR
Heading into its biggest game of the season to date, Slippery Rock finds itself receiving much-deserved regional and national attention.
 
Regionally, Slippery Rock was ranked eighth in the most recent D2SIDA Atlantic Region poll (HERE). Additionally, Inkblot Sports currently has The Rock ranked eighth in the region in terms of Performance Indicator (HERE).
 
On the national stage, SRU was recently one of 11 "pleasantly surprising teams" featured on NCAA.com (HERE).
 
A victory over East Stroudsburg would not only continue The Rock's early-season surge, but will almost assuredly prove to be a marquee regional victory that will bolster SRU's NCAA Tournament resume come March.
 
EXCELLING ON AND OFF THE COURT
The Rock's great start to the season has extended off the court and into the classroom. As a team, SRU finished the fall semester with a cumulative team GPA of 3.0. Britt, Nik Cazacu, Bobby Clifford, Mack Staunch and Trey Metzka all finished the fall with 4.0 semester GPAs.
 
THE ROCK ROTATION
• Khalid Gates is one of the top post presences in the PSAC. He scores 15.8 points per game thanks to a .525 field goal percentage all the while collecting 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks game. Gates has scored in double figures in nine consecutive games.  
 
• No athlete is more important to The Rock's success than Britt, who leads SRU in scoring at 16.5 ppg in addition to producing 1.5 steals, 1.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds. Through 10 games, SRU's senior leader holds a team-high +/- of +81.
 
• Lindsey has scored 13 points in two of The Rock's last three games to up his season average to 7.6 ppg. Lindsey, who is tied with Britt for the team-lead in steals and second in overall rebounding at 6.4 per game, has collected 10 offensive rebounds over his last three games.
 
• Jonathan McFall is Slippery Rock's third-leading scorer with 12.4 points per game. McFall gets his points on efficient shooting percentages of .523 from the field overall and a stellar .844 showing at the foul line. He is also SRU's No. 3 rebounder (4.4 rpg) all the while averaging 1.1 steals a game.
 
• Clifford played a pivotal role in The Rock's most recent victories over Mansfield and Bloomsburg as he averaged 13.5 points on a 52.3 field percentage (11-of-21) in the crossover games. He has made four of his last nine 3-point attempts.
 
• Ahmad Galimore leads The Rock in multi-steal games (6) which has resulted in 13 total steals over his 10 games played in addition to per contest averages of 5.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals.
 
• Jomo Goings typically serves as The Rock's first guard off the bench. Goings, who had the best game of his abbreviated true freshman season a year ago against ESU, averages 7.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. He has picked up four steals in SRU's last three outings.
 
• Freshman guard Alex Griggs matched season-bests of six points and three steals after logging a career-high 18 minutes in the Bloomsburg win.
 
• Rounding out The Rock's standard rotation is Cazacu (1.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg) and Dylan Ahearn (2.3 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.0 apg).

SRU'S HISTORIC START
A road victory over East Stroudsburg would give Slippery Rock a 10-1 record. Over the program's 112-year history, SRU teams have started the season 10-1 just four times and only one of those occurred in the modern era.
 
Season Record in First 11 Games
1923-24: 10-1
1924-25: 10-1
1952-53: 10-1
2009-10: 10-1
 
GLASS CLEANERS
After grabbing 25 offensive rebounds in its win against Bloomsburg, Slippery Rock enters the weekend averaging 13.9 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks 16th in the nation, fourth in the Atlantic Region and second among the 18-team PSAC.
 
The Rock's impressive offensive rebounding numbers can be attributed to a pack-like mentality in which six athletes average at least one offensive rebound per game with Gates leading the way at 2.7 followed by Clifford (1.8), McFall (1.8), Lindsey (1.8), Galimore (1.6) and Griggs (1.1).
 
ROCK SOLID DEFENSE
Friday's game will feature a battle between one of the highest-scoring teams in the nation in East Stroudsburg and a Rock team that has proven more than capable of holding its own defensively.
 
So far this season, Slippery Rock has limited opponents to just 67.3 points per game on 41 percent shooting overall, including a 32 percent mark from 3-point range while also forcing 15.8 turnovers per game. Additionally, SRU has out-rebounded the opposition in seven of 10 contests resulting in a +5.0 rebounding margin for the year.
 
SRU vs. THE PSAC EAST
Dating back to the 2011-12 season when the PSAC began counting crossover games as division contests, Slippery Rock has compiled a record of 43-24 (.642) overall against Eastern Division teams. So far this season, Slippery Rock is 3-1 against the PSAC East with wins over Shepherd, Mansfield and Bloomsburg as well as one loss at Shippensburg. SRU possess an 14-7 (.667) record in crossover games under head coach Ian Grady.

BENCH MOB
When called upon, Slippery Rock has been able to count on its bench to provide a scoring spark. Over the first 10 games, The Rock's bench has out-scored their counterparts seven times. All told, SRU reserves average 20.6 points per game.
 
Bench Scoring (Total Points)
Jomo Goings (8 Games): 56
Lashon Lindsey (6 Games): 41
Jonathan McFall (5 Games): 40
Alex Griggs (10 Games): 30
Dylan Ahearn (8 Games): 18
Nik Cazacu (9 Games): 11
Ahmad Galimore (1 Game): 5
Bryon Ottrix (2 Games): 3
Trey Metzka (2 Games): 2
 
SPECIALTY STATS
• SRU averages 17.9 points off turnovers per game while holding opponents to just 11.4 points off its own miscues.

• The Rock's previously mentioned stellar offensive rebounding has resulted in 14.7 second chance points per game. Conversely, SRU gives up just 10.4 offensive rebounds per game and on average only 9.9 second chance points a contest.
 
LATE-GAME DOMINANCE
Simply put, Slippery Rock has controlled the late stages of games this season. In the final five minutes of contests so far this year, SRU has limited its opponents to a .341 overall field goal percentage that includes a scant .286 3-point percentage to go with an average of 2.3 turnovers.
 
Conversely, The Rock has connected on 50.7 percent of their field goal attempts over the final five minutes. Overall, SRU has been outscored in the final five minutes just three times this season resulting in a total margin of +19 (111-92).
 
CLUTCH FOUL SHOOTING
The pressure of late-game foul shooting has had no effect on The Rock this season, in fact SRU has shined when tasked with converting free throws in crunch time. As a team, Slippery Rock enters the East Stroudsburg game having made 79.2 percent (38-of-48) of its free throws in the final five minutes of regulation this season, up from its overall foul shooting in games of 75.1 percent.
 
In particular, the quartet of McFall (11-13), Lindsey (5-6), Britt (5-6) and Galimore (5-6) have combined to make 26-of-31 free throw attempts in the final five minutes of games (.839).

HOW THE ROCK COMPARES (PSAC Team Rankings)
• Offensive Rebounding: 2nd (13.9)
• Blocks: 2nd (4.2)
• Rebounding: 3rd (39.6)
• Turnovers: 3rd (12.9)
• Scoring Margin: 4th (9.4)
• Rebounding Margin: 4th (+5.0)
• Free Throw %: 4th (.751)
• Defensive Field Goal %: 4th (.410)
• Steals: 5th (8.8)
• Points Allowed: 6th (67.3)
• Defensive 3PT Field Goal %: 6th (.320)
• Scoring: 8th (76.7)
 
ROCK AMONG THE PSAC'S BEST
• Field Goal %: Khalid Gates – 5th (.525)
• Field Goal %: Jonathan McFall – 6th (.523)
• Free Throw %: Jonathan McFall – 8th (.844)
• Offensive Rebounding: Khalid Gates – 9th (2.7)
• Total Points Scored: Amante Britt – 10th (165)
• Total Blocks: Khalid Gates – 11th (10)
• Scoring Average: Amante Britt – 12th (16.5)
• Total Steals: Lashon Lindsey – 13th (15)
• Blocks Per Game: Khalid Gates – 13th (1.0)
• Scoring Average: Khalid Gates – 14th (158)
• Free Throw %: Khalid Gates - 15th (.758)
• Made Free Throws: Jonathan McFall – 15th (27)
 
GRADY CLIMBING PSAC WIN CHART
Slippery Rock head coach Ian Grady enters the ESU game with a career record of 60-37 (.619)
 
Now in his fifth overall year in charge of the program, and fourth where actual games will be played by The Rock, Grady already ranks fifth in the league in terms of victories among all active PSAC coaches in their first four full seasons at their current schools.
 
Grady is one win away from tying Gary Manchel, a former SRU graduate assistant and current Mercyhurst head coach, for fourth place. Indiana's Joe Lombardi is first among active coaches for wins in their opening four years at their current school with 74.
 
Wins in first four seasons at current school
1-Joe Lombardi (Indiana / 2006-10): 74
2-Damien Blair (West Chester / 2008-12): 67
3-Chris Fite (Shippensburg / 2013-17): 63
4-Gary Manchel (Mercyhurst / 2003-07): 61
5-Ian Grady (Slippery Rock / 2018-23*): 60
 
*2020-21 season canceled due to COVID-19
 
RECORD BY STARTING LINEUP
Slippery Rock has utilized four different starting lineups in its first 10 games.
 
Britt, Clifford, Gates, Galimore, McFall: 5-0
Britt, Clifford, Gates, Galimore, Lindsey: 3-0
Britt, Clifford, Gates, Goings, Lindsey: 1-0
Britt, Clifford, Gates, Goings, Galimore: 0-1
 
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. 13-15)
13: Daniel Pratt (1992-94): 61
14: Troy Miller (1991-94): 59
t15: Lashon Lindsey (2019-SA): 57
t15: Jade Burka (2007-11): 57
t15: Bill Johnson (1987-90): 57
 
SRU Career Assists (No. 6-10)
6: Myron Brown (1987-91): 299
7: Brent Schrempf (1993-95): 293
8: Amante Britt (2018-SA): 284
9: Todd Baker (1986-89): 282
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: Amante Britt (2018-SA): 119
10: William Johnson (2002-05): 117
 
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): 2,590
9: Jamar Scales (2005-09): 2,484
10: Louie Moore (1997-00): 2,411
 
SRU Career 3-Pointers Made (No. 9-13)
9: C. Russell (1987-91): 101
10: Shaun Grill (2002-04): 91
t11: Amante Britt (2018-SA): 87
t11: Eroll Robinson (2005-09): 87
13: Frankie Hughes (2021-22): 85

EAST STROUDSBURG PRIMER
Season Stats: Link
Overall Record: 9-1
PSAC Record: 3-1
PSAC East Standings: t-1st
D2SIDA Atlantic Region Poll: 5th
Home Record: 5-0
Away Record: 3-1
Streak: W1
Last 5 Games: 4-1
Head Coach: Jeff Wilson | 20th season (367-189)
 
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
• A perennial PSAC and Atlantic Region power, East Stroudsburg is once again in the midst of another great season with a 9-1 overall record and a 3-1 mark in PSAC competition. ESU enters Friday's game receiving votes in both the National Association of Basketball Coaches and D2SIDA Top-25 polls.
 
• As a team, East Stroudsburg ranks third in the nation in scoring at 97.8 points per game. The Warriors have been held under 85 points just once this season. ESU also ranks third in all of Division II in scoring margin (+22.9), sixth in steals (11.0), seventh in turnovers forced (19.5), 10th in turnover margin (+5.8) and 12th in rebounding (42.2).
 
• Lakeem McAliley and Carlos Pepin spearhead ESU's offense with respective scoring averages of 17.5 and 17.4 points per game.
 
• In addition to ranking fourth in the nation in offensive rebounding (4.1), Pepin also averages 9.7 rebounds and 1.0 steals a contest while McAliley leads the PSAC in steals at 2.1 per game while shooting 62.7 percent from the field and a near perfect 93.5 percent (43-of-46) at the foul line.
 
• Jaelen McGLone (11.7) and Justin Paz (11.5) round out ESU's leading scorers.
 
• In their loss at Slippery Rock a year ago, Paz and McAliley combined to go 7-for-9 from 3-point range on the way to respective point totals of 16 and 14.
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock opens the PSAC West portion of its 2022-23 schedule when it hosts Gannon University 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at Morrow Field House.