SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team lost a close 84-82 decision on the road to West Chester University Friday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference crossover competition.
 
The loss moves The Rock's record to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the PSAC while the Golden Rams improve to 3-3 overall and 1-0 in league games. Three of SRU's four losses this season have been decided by no more than eight points.
 
Ike Herster came off the bench to score a game-high 20 points in addition to going for five rebounds and four assists. Herster was 6-of-13 from the floor overall, including three 3-pointers, and a 5-of-6 outing at the foul line.
 
Jomo Goings turned in a 13-point, three-rebound effort as well while Maceo Austin tallied 11 points, four assists and a pair of steals. Ja'Mier Fletcher produced a near double-double of 10 points, eight rebounds and three blocks over 21 minutes in what was his first start in a Slippery Rock uniform.
 
Rounding out SRU's starting lineup was Luke Howes, who scored nine points, and Lashon Lindsey with six points, five rebounds and three assists.
 
Joining Herster as The Rock's top reserves Friday were Sheick Samoura and Bobby Clifford. Samoura scored eight points while Clifford blocked three shots and pulled down seven rebounds.
 
West Chester led for the virtually the entire opening half, but Slippery Rock was able to offset an off shooting half by converting 17-of-20 foul shots, recording a +7 rebound margin and limiting the Golden Rams to a 36.8 percent shooting effort to ultimately take a 40-37 lead into the halftime break.
 
SRU trailed West Chester 33-30 with 2:26 remaining in the first half before scoring 10 of the period's final 14 points on the way to its three-point halftime advantage. Goings and Howes combined for eight of the 10 points in the run.
 
The Rock and Golden Rams traded runs to open the second half with SRU leading by as many as seven points only for West Chester to answer back and build up a nine-point 73-64 lead of their own with 6:28 left to play.
 
Not to be outdone, Slippery Rock once again countered by scoring 10 of the following 11 points to pull even with WCU at 74-74 and 3:17 showing on the clock. SRU's run featured four different athletes contributing points.
 
The two evenly matched teams went on trade baskets for virtually the rest of the game before West Chester clawed its way out to an 83-79 advantage, but in a game in which no lead was truly safe Goings promptly drove the floor and connected on a 3-pointer to keep SRU within striking distance late.
 
However, Joshua Walker would then go to the foul line and convert 1-of-2 foul shots after The Rock was forced to foul following Goings' triple. The ensuing possession saw West Chester deflect an SRU pass out of bounds with just 0.3 seconds left with The Rock then being unable to get off a desperation shot on the proceeding inbounds pass as time expired in the two-point WCU win.
 
Slippery Rock made over half of its field goal attempts in the second half, balancing out a slow opening 20 minutes to finish the game shooting 42.1 percent (24-of-57) from the field overall and 33.3 percent (9-of-27) from 3-point range in addition hitting 75.8 percent (25-of-33) from the free throw line.
 
The 25 made free throws were the most by a Rock team since going 26-for-32 at the foul line against California (Pa.) on Feb. 1, 2020.
 
SRU also closed the game holding advantages over West Chester in rebounding (42-39), blocks (7-4), assists (14-11) and second chance points (13-10).
 
West Chester finished the win shooting 40.9 percent (27-of-66) overall, 26.3 percent (5-of-19) from distance and 78.1 percent (25-of-32) at the foul line. WCU forced SRU into 13 turnovers while committing just six miscues of its own. Walker scored 20 points in the win.
 
Slippery Rock closes the weekend with another PSAC crossover game 3 p.m. Saturday at Millersville University.
 




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