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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team will begin its quest for a league championship when it travels to California University (Pa.) 6 p.m. Monday for a first round game in the 2021-22 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament.

TICKET INFO
• Adults - $10
• Children/Students - $5
• SRU Students – FREE with SRU ID

LIVE COVERAGE
Video and in-game statistics for Monday's game will be provided by the California Sports Information office at the below links.
 
PSAC TOURNAMENT OPENING ROUND DETAILS
Opponent: California University
Date: Feb. 28 – 6 p.m.
Location: Convocation Center – California, Pennsylvania
Live Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SRU leads 89-88
Last Played: Feb. 21, 2022 (SRU won 87-81)

RECORDS/LAST TIME OUT
• Records: Slippery Rock heads to California as the fifth seed out of the Western Division after recording a 17-11 overall record during the regular season including an 11-5 league mark. The host Vulcans earned the fourth seed in the division after going 20-8 overall and 15-7 in PSAC games.
 
• Last Time Out: SRU closed the season with an 80-65 road loss at No. 17 Mercyhurst while the Vulcans also dropped a road decision at Gannon, 87-83.

PSAC TOURNAMENT SETUP
The top six teams in the PSAC West standings at the end of the year earned berths into the PSAC Tournament. The top two seeds in each division received first round byes with the rest of the first round schedule featuring the third seeds hosting the sixth seeds and the fourth seeds hosting the fifth seeds from their own divisions.
 
In the PSAC West, Indiana and Mercyhurst are seeded first and second followed by No. 3 Pitt-Johnstown, No. 4 California, No. 5 Slippery Rock and No. 6 Gannon.
 
The winner of Monday's game between Slippery Rock and California will play at top-seeded Indiana University (Pa.) Wednesday.  

HOW THEY GOT HERE
Slippery Rock earned its postseason bid following a strong finish to the regular season that saw The Rock win six of their final seven games to end the year two games ahead of sixth-seeded Gannon. The Vulcans recorded their first 20-win season in the last 14 years to go 20-8 overall and 15-7 in league games to claim the fourth seed.

ROCK PSAC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Slippery Rock will be making its 11th postseason appearance in the last 13 years and its 24th appearance in the PSAC Tournament all-time.
 
The Rock men's basketball program has compiled an overall record of 20-23 in PSAC Tournament games. SRU has played in eight PSAC Tournament championship games with the program's lone title coming in 1962-63.
 
SRU will be looking to break a recent trend of one-and-done appearances in the PSAC Tournament following a quarterfinal loss to Mercyhurst (73-68) in 2018-19 and a first-round exit in 2019-20 after an 85-78 loss to Pitt-Johnstown.
 
Slippery Rock and California last met in the PSAC Tournament in 2012-13 as SRU defeated the Vulcans 85-71 behind 20-point showings from Tabari Perry and Sa'Quan Davis.

ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY vs. CAL U
Slippery Rock snapped a three-game losing streak to the Vulcans with its road win at California a week ago that pushed SRU's record against Cal U to 89-88 all-time. Slippery Rock has won eight of its last 10 games played at Cal U.
 
Overall: SRU leads 89-88
Current Streak: SRU W1
Longest SRU Win Streak: 11 games (Twice)
Longest California Win Streak: 10 games (Jan. 22, 1992 - Feb. 7, 1996)
At California: Cal U leads 53-34
First Meeting: Jan. 17, 1920 (Slippery Rock won 37-9)
Last Meeting: Feb. 21, 2022 (SRU won 87-81)
Last 10 Games: Slippery Rock leads 6-4
Most Points, SRU: 115 - Feb. 20, 1991
Most Points, CAL: 126 - Feb. 8, 1995
Largest Victory, SRU: 46 (86-40), Feb. 23, 1946
Largest Victory, Cal U: 35 (98-63), Feb. 3, 1999
SRU coach Ian Grady vs. Cal: 3-3
Cal coach Danny Sancomb vs. SRU: 3-3

SEASON SERIES BETWEEN THE ROCK AND VULCANS  |  GAME 1 BOX SCORE  |  GAME 2 BOX SCORE
Slippery Rock and California split the season series with each team winning on the others home floor. Cal U beat The Rock, 92-83, at Morrow Field House on Jan. 29 with Slippery Rock getting a measure of redemption courtesy of an 87-81 victory at California's Convocation Center a week ago on Feb. 21.

SRU-CAL SEASON SERIES TEAM STATS
As one would expect from two evenly-matched teams who played in games decided by just nine and six points, the team stats from the season series between Slippery Rock the Vulcans are nearly identical. The only glaringly obvious stat advantages were overall shooting percentage, Cal U shot 46.3 percent (63-of-136) with SRU shooting only 40.7 percent (59-of-145), and made 3-pointers where Slippery Rock converted 21 triples to California's 16. (Full stat breakdown on page two of game notes HERE)

ROCK ROTATION vs. CAL U in 2022
• Tyler Frederick: 2 Games (22 ppg, 14.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1 spg, 33 mpg)
• Amante Britt: 2 Games (18 ppg, 2 rpg, 5 apg, 2 spg, 40 mpg)
• Jonathan McFall: 2 Games (15 ppg, 6 rpg, 1 bpg, 1.5 spg, 25.5 mpg)
• Frankie Hughes: 2 Games (13 ppg, 3 rpg, 3 apg, 1 spg, 27 mpg)
• Bobby Clifford: 2 Games (12.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 30 mpg)
• Lashon Lindsey: 2 Games (4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 20.5 mpg)
• Dylan Ahearn: 2 Games (0.5 ppg, 1 rpg, 1 spg, 14 mpg)
 
CAL ROTATION vs. SRU U in 2022
• Philip Alston: 2 Games (25 ppg, 14.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.5 bpg, 38.5 mpg)
• Zyan Collins: 2 Games (19 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1 apg, 1 spg, 37 mpg)
• Brent Pegram: 2 Games (16 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 6.5 apg, 1 spg, 36 mpg)
• Preston Boswell: 2 Games (9 ppg, 6 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1 spg, 40 mpg)
• Bryson Lucas: 2 Games (9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.5 spg, 16 mpg)
• Keith Palek III: 2 Games (4.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3 apg, 27.5 mpg)
• Dylin Borden: 2 Games (4 ppg, 5 mpg)
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Record: 17-11
PSAC Record: 13-9
PSAC West Standings: 5th
Home Record: 11-5
Away Record: 6-6
Streak: L1
Last Five Games: 4-1
Head Coach: Ian Grady | Fourth year at SRU (51-35)

FIVE STRAIGHT DOUBLE-DOUBLES FOR FREDERICK
No Rock player had a better finish to the regular season than Tyler Frederick, who has produced double-doubles in each of his last five games played including a 24-point, 13-rebound effort in SRU's win against California seven days ago.
 
Frederick, the PSAC's No. 2 rebounder and the nation's sixth-ranked offensive rebounder, now has 13 double-doubles this year and is one of only seven Rock players in the last 20 seasons to produce 10 or more double-doubles in a season joining Maron Brown (3x), Glenn Reepmeyer (2x), Micah Till (2x), Devin Taylor (2x), Denell Stephens (1x) and Cornelius Brown (1x).
 
Additionally, over the last 20 seasons Frederick joins Maron Brown (3x), Denell Stephens and Cornelius Brown (2x) as the only Slippery Rock players to record at least five consecutive double-doubles.

THE ROCK'S LONG-RANGE SPECIALIST
Frankie Hughes heads into the Monday's game having made 81 3-pointers this season. Not only are his 81 3's a PSAC-high this season, they also represent the second-highest total in Slippery Rock single-season history behind only Mark Metzka's 87 in 1994-95.
 
Hughes also leads the PSAC this year in 3-pointers per game with 2.9. He went 5-for-10 from 3-point territory on the way to a 23-point showing in SRU's win over California this year.

BRITT GUIDING THE OFFENSE
Slippery Rock point guard Amante Britt is in the midst of a career-year. A three-year starter, Britt had always been solid for SRU, but he has taken his game to another level this season with per game averages of 13.6 points, 4.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.
 
A veteran of 85 game for The Rock, Britt currently ranks 10th in program history for assists in a career (266) and 12th in steals (104) while his 85 starts are tied for the sixth most at The Rock.

ROUNDING OUT THE ROTATION
Jonathan McFall has proven himself capable of taking over games this season as the springy forward has produced per game averages of 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks while making 59 percent (140-of-237) of his two-point field goal attempts this year. McFall scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds a week ago against the Vulcans.
 
Bobby Clifford has started 22 of 28 games played as a redshirt freshman on the way to averaging 6.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He has made 11 of his last 20 field goal attempts. He had 11 points and six rebounds against Cal U on Feb. 21.
 
Dylan Ahearn is coming off an extremely efficient game against Mercyhurst that saw the freshman come off the bench to score 11 points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field and a 4-of-5 mark at the foul line. Ahearn has made 40.9 percent (27-of-66) of his 3-point shots this season.
 
Lashon Lindsey serves as The Rock's sixth man. The forward scores 5.9 ppg to go with 6.0 rebounds and one block a night. A true stretch forward, Lindsey has converted 21 3-pointers this year.

ROCK 7th IN NATION IN OFFENSIVE REBOUNDING
Slippery Rock enters the postseason ranked seventh in the nation in offensive rebounding at 13.89 per game. SRU's offensive rebounding efforts are led by Tyler Frederick (4.1), Jonathan McFall (2.4) Lashon Lindsey (1.5), Bobby Clifford (1.1) and Frankie Hughes (1.0). Frederick's offensive rebounding is on an elite level as he is one of just seven players in Division II to average at least four offensive rebounds per game.

IMPORTANCE OF A FAST START
Slippery Rock is 12-2 this season when leading heading into the halftime break, but just 5-9 when trailing through the first 20 minutes. SRU has taken a lead into the second half in each of its last six games.
 
HITTING 3'S AT A HISTORIC RATE
Slippery Rock enters the Cal U game having averaged 8.3 made 3-pointers per game this season. Over The Rock's program history, only three teams have finished a season averaging over eight made 3-pointers in a season - 1994-95 (9.2), 2009-10 (9.1), 2018-19 (8.7). 
 
ROCK AMONG THE PSAC'S BEST
• 3-Pointers Per Game: Frankie Hughes – 1st (2.9)
• Offensive Rebounding: Tyler Frederick – 1st (4.07)
• Overall Rebounding: Tyler Frederick – 2nd (9.6)
• Assist/Turnover Ratio: Amante Britt – 4th (2.3)
• Assists: Amante Britt – 5th (4.7)
• Steals: Frankie Hughes – 5th (1.8)
• Field Goal %: Jonathan McFall - 7th (.529), Tyler Frederick – 8th (.519)
• Blocks: Lashon Lindsey / Jonathan McFall – 9th (1.0)
• 3-Pt Field Goal %: Frankie Hughes – 13th (.319)
 
SRU IN THE PSAC RANKINGS
• Offensive Rebounding: 2nd (13.9)
• 3-Pointers Made Per Game: 3rd (8.3)
• Turnover Margin: 3rd (+2.50)
• Blocks: 3rd (4.04)
• Rebounding Margin: 4th (+4.2)
• Turnovers Per Game: 4th (11.4)
• Free Throw %: 6th (.731)
• Field Goal %: 7th (.453)
• Steals: 6th (7.36)
• Points Per Game: 7th (79.9)
• Field Goal %: 7th (.453)
• Scoring Margin: 8th (+5.5)

WHO SAYS THERE'S NO SECOND CHANCES IN LIFE?
The Rock has been able to score 14.2 second chance points per game. Over the last seven seasons only the 2017-18 (17.6), 2014-15 (16.9) and 2018-19 (14.7) teams have scored more second chance points per game.
 
SRU averaged 17 second chance points per game in its two contests against California this year.
 
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF MISTAKES
Slippery Rock, which has forced opponents into 13.9 turnovers per game this season, has done a great job of converting its opponent miscues into points. Through 28 games, SRU has averaged 16.6 points off turnovers per game.
 
SRU scored 23 points off of 21 Cal U turnovers in the two regular season games between the two teams.
 
If The Rock are able to maintain that average through the rest of the season it would rank second behind the program single-season record of 17.8 points off of turnovers per game set by the 2018-19 team. SRU began tracking points off turnover as a statistic in 2014-15.
 
VALUING POSSESSION
To date, the 2021-22 Slippery Rock men's basketball team has taken care of the basketball at a rate not seen at SRU in years, if ever. Through 28 games, Slippery Rock is committing just 11.4 turnovers per game, which would be a single-season program record at SRU were the season to end today (turnovers were not tracked prior to the 1989-90 season).
 
Slippery Rock finished below its season average in both California games this year with nine miscues in its home loss and 11 in the road victory.
 
CLOSE LOSSES
Nine of Slippery Rock's 11 losses this season have come by nine points or less including seven defeats by no more than seven points. Overall, SRU's average margin of defeat is 7.2 points.
 
GRADY MOST WINS BY ACTIVE PSAC COACHES IN 1st 3 YEARS
Slippery Rock's great finish to the regular season improved head coach Ian Grady's career record to an impressive 51-35 (.593)
 
Entering the postseason in his fourth year in charge of the program, and third where actual games will be played, Grady now ranks first in the league in terms of victories among all active PSAC coaches in their first three full seasons at their current schools.
 
California head coach Danny Sancomb has won 47 games in his first three years leading the Vulcans, the third highest total behind Grady and Damien Blair (48, West Chester / 2008-11).

CALIFORNIA PRIMER
Season Stats: Link
Record: 20-8
PSAC Record: 15-7
PSAC West Standings: 4th
Home Record: 9-5
Away Record: 10-3
Neutral Site Record: 1-0
Streak: L1
Last Five Games: 3-2
Head Coach: Danny Sancomb | Third year at CAL (47-38)
 
SCOUTING THE VULCANS
• Cal U is led by likely first team All-PSAC West forward Philip Alston. The PSAC's top rebounder, and leading scorer as well as No. 2 shot blocker goes for 21.3 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.
 
• Brent Pegram is an accomplished scorer at 18.0 ppg all the while guiding the offense with 4.4 assists a night. Zyan Collins (14.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.5 apg) and Preston Boswell (11.6 ppg) round out Cal U's leaders.
 
• As a team, California ranks third in the PSAC in scoring at 83.1 ppg. Defensively, the Vulcans have held teams to a .398 field goal percentage, the second lowest in the league behind only IUP (.391).
 
• Alston averaged 25 points, 14.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks against The Rock this season while Collins scored 19 ppg in the two contests with Pegram also adding 16 ppg, 6.5 apg and 4.5 rpg.
 
UP NEXT
If victorious against the Vulcans, Slippery Rock will travel to play at Indiana University (Pa.) in the PSAC Tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday.







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