SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team will conclude its brief Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division road swing with a game at Mercyhurst University 3 p.m. Saturday in what will be a meeting between two of the top teams in the league standings.

LIVE COVERAGE
Live video and in-game statistics will be provided by the Mercyhurst Athletic Communications office at the below links.
 
GAME 15 DETAILS
Opponent: Mercyhurst University
Date: Saturday – 3 p.m.
Location: Mercyhurst Athletic Center – Erie, Pennsylvania
Live Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: Tied 30-30
Last Played: Feb. 26, 2022 (MU won 80-65)

LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock dropped an 84-77 decision on the road at Seton Hill University while Mercyhurst defeated Shepherd, 70-45, at home. Both games were played Wednesday.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
Slippery Rock and Mercyhurst have evenly split 60 games all-time in a series that dates back to 1971. The Lakers have won three straight games against The Rock with SRU's last victory against Mercyhurst coming in Erie during the 2019-20 season.
 
THE ROCK vs. MERCYHURST LAST YEAR (2 Games)
• Amante Britt: 12.0 Points, 3.5 Rebounds, 1.5 Assists
• Bobby Clifford: 8.0 Points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 Assists, 1.0 Steals
• Lashon Lindsey: 7.5 Points, 5.5 Rebounds, 1.5 Assists
• Dylan Ahearn: 7.0 Points, 1.5 Steals, 1.5 Rebounds
• Nik Cazacu: 5.5 Points, 3.0 Rebounds, 1.0 Blocks
• Jonathan McFall (One Game): 4 Points, 3 Rebounds, 1 Block
 
MERCYHURST vs. THE ROCK LAST YEAR (2 Games)
• MiyKah McIntosh: 14.5 Points, 3.5 Rebounds, 2.0 Assists, 1.5 Steals
• Jeff Planutis: 11.0 Points, 1.5 Assists, 1.5 Rebounds, 1.0 Blocks
• Aidan Reichert: 10.5 Points, 2.5 Rebounds, 2.0 Assists
• Nicholas Lang: 7.5 Points, 7.0 Rebounds, 3.0 Assists, 1.0 Steals
• Pipeloluwa Ajayi: 1.0 Points, 3.0 Rebounds
• Michael Bradley (One Game): 6 Points, 2 Rebounds, 1 Assist

SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
Overall Record: 11-3
PSAC Record: 5-3
PSAC West Standings: 4th
D2SIDA Atlantic Region Poll: 6th
Home Record: 9-0
Away Record: 2-3
Streak: L1
Last 5 Games: 3-2
Head Coach: Ian Grady | Fifth season (62-39)
 
LAST 5 GAMES
Dec. 19 – vs. Bloomsburg: W, 60-52
Dec. 30 – at East Stroudsburg: L, 93-66
Jan. 4 – vs. Gannon: W, 83-69
Jan. 7 – vs. California (Pa.): W, 96-71
Jan. 11 – at Seton Hill: L, 84-77
 
THE ROCK ROTATION
• In addition to being The Rock's leading scorer at 15.4 points per game, Amante Britt also enters the Mercyhurst game as SRU's leader in assists (2.1 apg), steals (1.7 spg), made 3-pointers (27) minutes played (29.9 mpg).
 
• SRU's best interior threat, and one of the top forwards in the entire PSAC, Khalid Gates has started every game this season while averaging 15.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 52.7 percent from the field.
 
• Jonathan McFall is The Rock's third double figure scorer at 12.5 ppg on efficient shooting percentages of .484 overall, .400 from 3-point range and .860 at the free throw line. McFall also records 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.
 
• Fresh off a career-high 18 points against Seton Hill, Jomo Goings will bring averages of 8.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals a game into the weekend.
 
• A starter in each of the last seven games, Lashon Lindsey joins Gates as one of two modern day post presences with 8.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.5 spg and 0.7 bpg.
 
• One of three Rock athletes to start every game this season along with Britt and Gates, Bobby Clifford provides SRU with 6.4 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
 
• Ahmad Galimore has proven capable of helping SRU in all facets of the game as evidenced by his season stat line of 5.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals.
 
• Alex Griggs continues to get steady minutes as a true freshman on a veteran oriented Rock team. Through the first 14 outings of his collegiate career, Griggs averages 3.1 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.
 
• One of the top pure athletes on the team, veteran Nik Cazacu has appeared in 13 games with per contest averages of 1.2 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. Dylan Ahearn rounds out SRU's typical nine-man rotation at 2.6 points and 1.3 rebounds a game.
 
ROCK TRENDS
• Goings has shot 70.6 percent (12-for-17) from the field overall, 63.6 (7-of-11) from 3-point range and 85.7 percent (12-for-14) from the foul line over the last three games to average 14.3 points per game over the stretch.
 
• Lindsey has totaled at least five rebounds in seven straight games.
 
• After producing just three assists over The Rock's first 10 games, McFall has set his teammates up courtesy of eight assists in his last four games.
 
• Gates has gone without a block in a game only twice this season.
 
• Clifford has connected on four of his last seven 3-point attempts in SRU's last three games.
 
• After a slight slump in which he was 2-for-22 from 3-point territory, Britt has returned to form by going 8-for-14 from long range in the last two games.
 
• After averaging 6.7 assists per game over the first seven games, Slippery Rock has dished out 13.0 assists a contest in its most recent seven outings.
 
• SRU has out-rebounded its opponents in 11 of 14 games this season and holds a year-long rebounding margin of +4.6, the third highest margin in the PSAC.
 
BRITT CLOSING IN ON 1,000 POINTS
Britt enters the Mercyhurst game having scored 891 points over his Slippery Rock career. With half of the regular season. as well as any potential postseason games. still to be played it is very likely that Britt will become the 24th athlete in program history to score 1,000 points in his career.
 
If Britt maintains his current scoring average he will hit the lofty career mark Feb. 1 at Gannon. Before Britt there have been just two other Rock athletes to score 1,000 career points in the last 12 years – Micah Till (1,493 / 2017-20) and Devin Taylor (1,143 / 2010-13).
 
SPARK PLUG OFF THE BENCH
Goings has scored 11 or more points off the bench in three straight games for The Rock, including his previously mentioned career-high 18-point showing at Seton Hill.
 
Over the last three seasons, there has been just one athlete for The Rock to come off the bench and finish in double figures three straight games: McFall had consecutive games of 15, 12 and 10 in the middle of last season.
 
GALIMORE CRASHING THE OFFENSIVE GLASS
Slippery Rock's offensive rebounding efforts as of late have been spearheaded by Galimore, who has averaged 4.0 offensive rebounds per game over the last four contests. Most recently, Galimore pulled down four offensive rebounds at Seton Hill.
 
As a team this year, Slippery Rock ranks third in the PSAC in offensive rebounding at 13.0 per game. Gates averages a team-high 2.3 orpg followed by Galimore (1.9), McFall (1.9), Clifford (1.6) and Lindsey (1.4).
 
GETTING GOING FROM DEEP
Slippery Rock been great from 3-point range as of late. As a team, SRU shoots 32.4 percent on the season from 3-point territory. However, over the last three games The Rock have converted 44.2 percent (31-of-70) of their attempts from distance.
 
Top 3-Point Shooters (Last 3 Games)
Jomo Goings: 7-for-11 (.636)
Bobby Clifford: 4-for-7 (.571)
Jonathan McFall: 7-for-13 (.538)
Amante Britt: 8-for-20 (.400)
 
AUTOMATIC FROM THE FOUL LINE
Entering the weekend, Slippery Rock ranks fifth in the PSAC in team free throw shooting at 74.8 percent. The Rock have been particularly sharp at the foul line in the new calendar year as they have gone 39-for-48 (.813) at the charity stripe in 2023.
 
Of the six Rock athletes that have attempted at least 20 foul shots this season, four are shooting at least 73 percent from the foul line in McFall (.860), Lindsey (.850), Goings (.805) and Britt (.735) while Gates (.683) and Galimore (.667) are both above respectable 66 percent as well.
 
ANOTHER GAME, ANOTHER BIG NIGHT BY THE BENCH
For the 10th time this season, and the seventh occasion in the last eight games, Slippery Rock's reserves once again outscored their counter parts with 31 points at Seton Hill to the Griffins' 11. On the year, The Rock's reserves average 22.0 ppg.
 
Top Bench Production (Points)
• Jomo Goings (12 Games): 102
• Jonathan McFall (6 Games): 47
• Alex Griggs (14 Games): 44
• Lashon Lindsey (6 Games): 41
• Dylan Ahearn (12 Games): 31
• Ahmad Galimore (4 Games): 23
• Nik Cazacu (13 Games): 15
 
HOW THE ROCK STACKS UP (PSAC Team rankings)
• Blocks: 2nd (4.07)
• Total Rebounding: 3rd (39.1)
• Offensive Rebounding: 3rd (13.0)
• Rebounding Margin: 3rd (+4.6)
• Scoring Margin: 5th (+7.1)
• FT%: 5th (.748)
• Steals: 5th (9.29)
• Scoring: 6th (77.8)
• Turnover Margin: 6th (+1.79)
• Opponent Scoring: 7th (70.7)
• Opponent 3PT FG%: 7th (.323)
• Opponent Turnovers: 7th (15.6)
 
ROCK AMONG THE PSAC'S BEST
• Field Goal %: Khalid Gates – 6th (.527)
• Free Throw %: Jonathan McFall – 6th (.860)
• Total Steals: Amante Britt – 6th (24)
• Steals Per Game: Amante Britt – 8th (1.7)
• Total Points: Amante Britt – 10th (216)
• Total Steals: Lashon Lindsey – 11th (21)
• Offensive Rebounding: Khalid Gates – 12th (2.3)
• Blocks Per Game: Khalid Gates – 12th (1.0)
• Total Blocks: Khalid Gates – 12th (14)
• Total Points: Khalid Gates – 13th (211)
• Scoring Average: Amante Britt – 14th (15.4)
• Steals Per Game: Lashon Lindsey – 14th (1.5)
• Defensive Rebounding: Lashon Lindsey – 15th (5.1)
 
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. 11-15)
11: James Richardson (1998-00): 69
12: Jamal Gatali (2014-16): 62
13: Daniel Pratt (1992-94): 61
14: Lashon Lindsey (2019-SA): 60
15: Troy Miller (1991-94): 59
 
SRU Career Assists (No. 3-7)
3: Shannon Pullium (1984-89): 399
4: Kyle Camper(2008-09): 305
5: Mark Metzka (1991-95): 301
6: Myron Brown (1987-91): 299
7: Amante Britt (2018-SA): 298
 
SRU Career Steals (No. 5-9)
5: Randy McKavish (1996-00): 147
6: Jamar Scales (2005-09): 138
7: Troy Mild (1980-84): 129
8: Amante Britt (2018-SA): 128
9: Micah Till (2017-20): 127
 
SRU Career Minutes Played (No. 5-9)
5: Kevin Jones (1987-91): 2,849
6: Dave Freeman (1998-03): 2,740
7: Amante Britt (2018-SA): 2,713
8: Tabari Perry (2010-14): 2,701
9: Jamar Scales (2005-09): 2,484
 
SRU Career 3-Pointers Made (No. 8-12)
8: Maurice Douglas (2008-10): 114
9: C. Russell (1987-91): 101
10: Amante Britt (2018-SA): 96
11: Shaun Grill (2002-04): 91
12: Eroll Robinson (2005-09): 87

MERCYHURST PRIMER
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
Overall Record: 10-2
PSAC Record: 6-2
PSAC West Standings: 3rd
D2SIDA Atlantic Region Poll: 8th
Home Record: 7-0
Away Record: 3-2
Streak: W1
Last 5 Games: 4-1
Head Coach: Gary Manchel | 20th season (343-198-1)
 
LAST 5 GAMES
Dec. 19 – vs. Lock Haven: W, 82-60
Dec. 30 – at Mansfield: W, 88-58
Jan. 4 – vs. Edinboro: W, 80-48
Jan. 7 – at #1 Indiana (Pa.): L, 80-67
Jan. 11 – vs. Shepherd: W, 70-45
 
SCOUTING THE LAKERS
As is the case nearly every season, Mercyhurst once again features one of the top defenses in the region. The Lakers have allowed more than 65 points in a game just three times this season and on average are giving up just 59.8 points per game while forcing 17.4 turnovers a contest.
 
Mercyhurst is particularly impressive at home where the Lakers have won 13 straight games and are surrendering just 52.6 ppg to its opponents this season alone.
 
Across Division II, Mercyhurst ranks fifth in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.387), sixth in opponent scoring, seventh in turnover margin (+5.8) and eighth in scoring margin (+19.1).
 
While known for their defense, Mercyhurst also scores 78.8 points per game thanks in part to an efficient effort from 3-point range that sees the Lakers shoot 41.6 percent, the eighth highest long-range percentage in the country.
 
Mercyhurst features a balanced attack with four players scoring in double figures Jeff Planutis (14.4), Michael Bradley (13.2), Nicholas Lang (11.6) and Aidan Reichert (11.3).
 
Bradley and Lang combine to average 8.4 assists per game while Pipeloluwa Ajayi is the team's leading rebounder at 6.3 rpg in addition to ranking second in the PSAC with 20 blocks (1.7 bpg).
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock returns home to host Edinboro 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at Morrow Field House.