SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Senior point guard Amante Britt made a 3-pointer with just three seconds remaining in regulation to give the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team a 71-70 victory against Pitt-Johnstown Saturday at Morrow Field House.
 
Following a free throw by Pitt-Johnstown's Jared Jaklubick, Slippery Rock found itself trailing the Mountain Cats 70-68 with 19 seconds remaining in regulation. Jaklubick would miss his second free throw attempt, leading to SRU head coach Ian Grady using a timeout with 19 seconds left in regulation.
 
The ensuing possession saw Lashon Lindsey back his defender down in the paint before finding a flashing Britt, who took Lindsey's pass and promptly hit a well-defended 3-pointer in front of The Rock's bench, giving SRU a 71-70 lead with three seconds to play.
 
UPJ took a timeout following Britt's clutch shot, but a full court pass on the ensuing possession was deflected by Lindsey which led to the Mountain Cats' Joe Batt scrambling for the loose ball before throwing up a desperation 3-pointer that hit off the side of the backboard as the final buzzer sounded.
 
Following the win, Slippery Rock closes the regular season with an overall record of 17-11 and a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division mark of 11-11. Pitt-Johnstown exits the weekend at 19-9 overall and 15-7 in league contests.
 
Saturday's regular season finale served as a preview for the opening round of the upcoming conference tournament. As the sixth seed in the PSAC West, Slippery Rock will travel to third-seeded Pitt-Johnstown Monday in what will be a re-match of Saturday's victory in the first round of the PSAC Tournament.
 
The Rock and Mountain Cats split the regular season series between the two schools with each team winning on its respective home floor.
 
The series between Slippery Rock and Pitt-Johnstown has been closely contested for the last three years as each of the previous seven games have been decided by no more seven points with the average final margin over that stretch being just 3.6 points.
 
Saturday's victory was a total team-effort for SRU as six players scored at least nine points.
 
Khalid Gates came off the bench to record a team-high 13 points in addition to nine rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal. Four of his rebounds came on the offensive glass. Lindsey added 12 points, six rebounds and two assists.
 
In his 114th collegiate start, Britt totaled 11 points, four assists and four steal. The reserve guard duo of Jomo Goings and Bobby Clifford added 10 points apiece as well with Clifford grabbing five rebounds.
 
Jonathan McFall rounded out SRU's leading scorers with nine points and a block. Fellow seniors Nik Cazacu and Earl Baker Jr. also played key roles in the win as Cazacu tallied four points, eight rebounds and a steal while Baker Jr. totaled two points, one assist, one block and one steal.
 
SRU came out of the halftime break leading by four points and eventually stretched its lead to 10 points early in the second half. However, Pitt-Johnstown battled back to tie the game at 66-66 with 3:14 to play before the two teams traded baskets en route to Britt's game-winner.
 
As a team, Slippery Rock shot 42.4 percent (28-of-66) from the field overall while making six 3-pointers and overcoming a 9-of-13 effort (69.2 percent) at the foul line. Following a 19-turnover contest Feb. 22 against Clarion, Slippery Rock took care of the ball exceptionally well with just nine miscues Saturday.
 
Defensively, SRU limited the Mountain Cats, which entered the game leading all of the NCAA regardless of division in 3-point shooting percentage, to a 6-of-19 performance from long range all the while forcing 17 UPJ turnovers which resulted in 20 Slippery Rock points.
 
John Paul Kromka led the Pitt-Johnstown attack with a 30-point, 11-rebound, two-block, two-steal performance.
 
Prior to Saturday's game Slippery Rock honored its 2023 senior class of Baker Jr., Britt, Cazacu and McFall for their contributions to the program over their careers.
 
Slippery Rock and Pitt-Johnstown are scheduled to start their first round PSAC Tournament game 7 p.m. Feb. 27 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
 
 
 
 
 
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