HONOLULU - A layup with under a second left in regulation proved to be the difference in a 76-74 loss for the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team Sunday at Hawaii Pacific University.
 
The close non-conference defeat drops The Rock's record to 1-2 on the year overall while the host Sharks improve to 3-2.
 
Sunday's game was a tight back-and-forth contest for all 40 minutes as the two evenly matched teams traded the lead 16 times, including 11 ties, with neither team leading by more than six points the entire night.
 
With 1:48 to play in regulation, HPU's Melo Sanchez hit a pair of free throws – the Sharks' 14th and 15th successful foul shots of the second half – to give Hawaii Pacific a 74-71 lead.
 
Not to be out done, Slippery Rock had an answer of its own on the ensuing possession as Maceo Austin knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the key to pull SRU into a 74-74 tie with 90 seconds left to play.
 
The Rock and Sharks went on to trade defensive stops, ultimately resulting in Hawaii Pacific having the ball at midcourt coming out of a timeout with only 4.5 seconds showing on the clock. Diggy Winbush proceeded to take the inbounds pass, drive to the rim and convert a high floating layup as time expired to give HPU the two-point win.
 
Lashon Lindsey led four Rock athletes in double figures following a 17-point, nine-rebound, three-assist, two-steal, one-block performance.
 
Prior to fouling out late in the second half, Jomo Goings provided The Rock with 15 points on a 6-for-8 shooting night from the floor that included one three-pointer and a pair of foul shots in addition to tallying five rebounds, two steals and one assist.
 
Austin closed the contest with 13 points, four rebounds and one block while Sheick Samoura posted 12 points. Samoura, who also had one block, was 4-of-6 from the field overall, 2-for-4 from 3-point range and 2-of-3 at the foul line.
 
Ike Herster went for nine points and four rebounds as well while Ja'Mier Fletcher finished the game with four points and four rebounds over 13 minutes. Luke Howes rounded out SRU's top contributors with four points.
 
As a team, Slippery Rock shot 47.5 percent (29-of-61) from the field overall despite converting just 7-of-24 3-point attempts. SRU also committed a scant six turnovers Sunday.
 
The host Sharks also had an efficient shooting performance at 49.1 percent overall (26-of-53) and 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from long range. HPU, which committed eight turnovers, held a slim 32-31 rebounding edge.
 
At the foul line, Hawaii Pacific converted 16-of-21 (.762) attempts while Slippery Rock went just 9-of-15 (.600). Sanchez registered a game-high 33 points for HPU with Winbush adding 10 points and Matt Van Komen blocking four shots and pulling in a game-best 10 rebounds.
 
SRU closes out its time in Hawaii 10 p.m. Monday at Chaminade University.





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