HONOLULU - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team lost a non-conference road game Monday at Chaminade University, 75-67.
 
Monday's game marked SRU's third straight loss, dropping its record to 1-3 early on in the 2023-24 season. The Silverswords meanwhile improve to 2-5 with the victory.
 
Slippery Rock placed four players in double figures in the defeat with Lashon Lindsey leading the way courtesy of a 13-point, 14-rebound, three-block, three-assist, one-steal effort. Lindsey has now recorded two double-doubles in the first four games of the season.
 
Sheick Samoura made his first collegiate start and turned in a 13-point, two-block performance while Maceo Austin added 12 points, seven rebounds and a pair of steals with Ike Herster posting 11 points of his own.
 
Point guard Luke Howes came away with a game-high four steals in addition to scoring a season-best nine points prior to fouling out. Bobby Clifford chipped in five first-half points and Ja'Mier Fletcher rounded out The Rock's top performers by way of a four-point, seven-rebound, two-block outing.
 
The Rock and Silverswords played to a 31-31 tie through the first 20 minutes competition. The two teams proceeded to trade six-point runs followed by alternating baskets over the first seven minutes of the second half, resulting in a 43-43 tie.
 
However, Chaminade proceeded to go on a decisive 7-0 run to open a 50-43 advantage that SRU ultimately could never battle back from as CU went on to build its lead out to as many as 12 points with 4:39 to play in regulation.
 
While The Rock did manage to cut the margin to just two possessions via an 8-0 run that was highlighted by 3-pointers from Howes and Herster, the double-digit deficit proved too much to come back from as Chaminade closed out the game by making consecutive 3-pointers and four of its final six foul shots en route to the eight-point win.
 
Slippery Rock finished the night shooting just 36.6 percent (26-of-71) from the field overall and 24.1 percent (7-of-29) from 3-point range, but were a stellar 8-for-9 (.889) at the foul line. The Rock also held a +2 (43-41) rebounding margin thanks in no small part to a season-high 17 offensive rebounds, which translated into 18 second chance points.
 
A strong second half performance led to Chaminade ending the game shooting 43.3 percent (29-of-67) from the field, 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from distance and 71.4 percent (10-of-14) from the free throw line. Isaac Amaral-Artharee led CU to the win by scoring a game-best 24 points. Ross Reeves added 16 points, eight assists and two steals as well.
 
Slippery Rock returns to the continental United States for back-to-back road Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference crossover games 5 p.m. Friday against West Chester University and 3 p.m. Saturday at Millersville University.




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