ELKINS, W. Va. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team concluded its six-game road trip with a 94-85 non-conference loss to Davis & Elkins College Thursday.
 
The nine-point loss, SRU's fifth single-digit setback of the season, drops The Rock's record to 1-6 while the Senators pushed their winning streak to three games and improved to 8-3 so far in 2023-24.
 
Maceo Austin and Luke Howes led The Rock's offensive output Thursday as the duo combined for 41 points on 16-of-30 shooting from the field and a 5-of-9 effort from 3-point territory.
 
Howes scored a career-high 21 points in addition to grabbing six rebounds, passing out three assists and making two steals without committing a turnover over 32 minutes of playing time. Austin meanwhile went for 20 points, six rebounds and one assist in what was his second 20-point outing of the year.
 
Ja'Mier Fletcher finished just shy of a double-double with 11 points, nine rebounds and one block. Ike Herster and Sheick Samoura rounded out The Rock's double-digit scorers at 10 points apiece.
 
Davis & Elkins built up a seven-point 45-38 lead with 3:52 to play in the first half before Slippery Rock stormed back to close the opening period on an 11-4 run and pull even with the Senators at 49-49 heading into the break. Herster and Austin combined for nine of The Rock's points during the run.
 
However, D&E controled the second half starting with an opening 10-3 run that gave the hosts a lead they would never surrender.
 
While SRU was able to cut its deficit down to one possession on three separate occasions over the final 15 minutes of regulation it ultimately was unable to complete its comeback bid as Davis & Elkins grew its lead out to as many as 13 points late en route to the eventual nine-point victory.
 
After making 5-of-11 3-point attempts in the first half and shooting 52.9 percent from the field overall, SRU made just 35.9 percent of its total shots in the final 20 minutes including a 4-of-13 mark from distance.

SRU closed the night shooting 43.8 percent (32-of-73) from the field overall as well as 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from long range and 63.2 percent (12-of-19) at the foul line on the way to its second highest point total of the season. Slippery Rock also committed a near season-low eight turnovers.
 
Davis & Elkins countered by converting 53 percent (35-of-66) of its field goal attempts including a Slippery Rock opponent season-high 56 points in the paint to help offset a 6-for-23 showing from deep. The Senators, which committed just four turnovers, also shot 69.2 percent (18-of-26) at the foul line.
 
Vadim Clanet tallied a game-high 24 points and Sam Rolle IV added 20 points and eight assists to lead D&E.
 
Slippery Rock returns to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference crossover competition when it hosts back-to-back games at Morrow Field House 5 p.m. Dec. 18 versus Shepherd University and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 against Shippensburg University.




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