EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team had its three-game winning streak snapped in a 93-66 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference loss Friday at East Stroudsburg University.
 
ESU's constant full-court press, which played a large role in a season-high 22 Slippery Rock turnovers, as well as the Warriors' six made 3-pointers in the first half ultimately proved too much for SRU to overcome in what was just The Rock's second setback of the year.
 
Following the defeat, Slippery Rock's record drops to 9-2 overall and 3-2 inside the PSAC while East Stroudsburg improves to 10-1 overall and 4-1 in league competition.
 
Khalid Gates and Lashon Lindsey led Slippery Rock's efforts Friday with a pair of near double-doubles. Gates went for 17 points, nine rebounds and one block while Lindsey turned in a 15-point, eight-rebound, one-steal performance all the while going a perfect 7-for-7 from the field.
 
Amante Britt was SRU's third player in double figures with 11 points in addition to coming up with two steals defensively. Fellow starters Ahmad Galimore and Bobby Clifford chipped in eight rebounds and four points, respectively. Four of Galimore's eight rebounds came on the offensive glass.
 
Jonathan McFall provided The Rock with seven points and four rebounds off the bench while Dylan Ahearn scored five points and Jomo Goings tallied two steals.
 
After trailing by four points over the opening four minutes of competition, Slippery Rock used a 10-5 run, that included back-to-back 3-pointers by Ahearn and Lindsey, to take a 16-13 lead nine minutes into the first half.
 
However, the remainder of the half belonged to the Warriors as ESU essentially put the game away by outscoring SRU 36-17 over the final 11 minutes of the half to take a comfortable 16-point lead into the break.
 
While Slippery Rock has routinely been at its best in the second half of games this year, a comeback was not in the cards Friday as ESU stretched its advantage out to as many as 27 points on the way to the 93-66 victory.
 
The Rock closed the night shooting 41.2 percent (28-of-68) from the field overall, 21.1 percent (4-of-19) from 3-point range and 46.2 percent (6-of-13) at the foul line. SRU also finished with a 42-41 rebounding advantage over the Warriors.
 
East Stroudsburg, which entered the game ranked third in the nation in scoring, hit 50 percent (35-of-70) of its field goal attempts despite converting just 33.3 percent (8-of-24) of its 3-pointers. ESU also was 15-of-23 (.652) from the foul line. The Warriors, which had 17 steals as a team, scored 24 points off SRU turnovers.
 
Carlos Pepin had a 23-point, 12-rebound, five-steal double-double while Lakeem McAliley added 22 points, eight rebounds and four steals to pace East Stroudsburg.
 
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.




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