SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Armoni Foster hit a 3-pointer with just seven seconds left in regulation to help lift eighth-ranked Indiana University (Pa.) to a 70-65 victory over the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team Saturday at Morrow Field House.
 
The loss drops The Rock's record to 11-8 overall and 7-6 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference while nationally ranked Indiana improves to 19-2 overall and 12-2 in league games.
 
Slippery Rock led by as many as 15 points through the game's first eight minutes before the Crimson Hawks closed the opening half on a 27-11 run to head into halftime leading 35-34.
 
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Dylan Ahearn and another by Amante Britt to open the second half led to SRU retaking its advantage, 43-35, with 17:07 left to play in regulation before IUP countered by scoring 19 of the next 22 points to earn an eight-point advantage of its own at 54-46 with 10:38 to play in the half.
 
The Crimson Hawks maintained their lead through the next five minutes, but with The Rock trailing 60-53 Lashon Lindsey converted a 3-pointer followed by Frankie Hughes hitting three straight 3-pointers himself to bring the largest crowd of the season to their feet and give SRU a 65-62 lead with 1:32 remaining in regulation.
 
However, Slippery Rock's upset bid ended there as Dave Morris quickly pulled IUP even with a 3-pointer then SRU was unable to re-take the lead on the ensuing possession giving Indiana the ball with the game tied and 27 seconds left to play.
 
Coming out of an IUP timeout, Foster took a pass from Tomiwa Sulaiman who promptly flipped the ball back to Foster which led to a drive and a step back by the PSAC's second leading scorer which created enough separation to connect on a wide-open go-ahead 3-pointer. SRU would commit a turnover on the in-bounds pass that led to an IUP layup to close out the tight five-point win.
 
Hughes finished the game shooting 5-of-13 from 3-point range en route to a 15-point, seven-rebound, four-assist, four-steal showing. Saturday marked the fourth time this season that Hughes made at least five 3-pointers.
 
Britt battled through an off-shooting night, 5-of-19 overall, to hit four 3-pointers on the way to a game-high 17 points in addition to passing out six assists. Tyler Frederick also finished in double figures with 12 points while matching Hughes for team-high rebounding honors at seven.
 
Jonathan McFall added seven points, five rebounds and three steals while Nik Cazacu made a pair of steals and Ahearn scored six points to round out The Rock's top contributors.
 
While SRU did shoot just 37.3 percent (22-of-59) from the field overall, The Rock did post their best 3-point shooting percentage since Dec. 18 by making 15-of-36 attempts from distance to finish at 41.7 percent. SRU also held a +1 advantage in rebounding (31-30) while forcing IUP into 13 turnovers, which were parlayed into a near season-high 24 points all the while making just 11 miscues of its own.
 
Slippery Rock made the most of its limited trips to the foul line at 85.7 percent (6-of-7) while IUP was awarded 20 foul shots, 15 of which were successful attempts.
 
Indiana shot 53.3 percent (24-of-45) from the field overall, 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from 3-point range and 75 percent at the foul line. Foster led all players with 22 points while Ethan Porterfield finished with 20 points and seven rebounds.
 
The Rock and Crimson Hawks will meet for the second time in 72 hours as the series shifts to Indiana Monday with opening tip set for 7 p.m. Following the second IUP game, Slippery Rock will play two more road contests 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at Pitt-Johnstown and 3 p.m. Feb. 12 at Seton Hill.
 




To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on Twitter (@Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).