SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - After trailing by as many as 14 points in the second half, the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team battled back to tie Seton Hill University with seven minutes left in regulations, but the Griffins pulled away down the stretch to spoil SRU's comeback bid for an 83-72 victory Saturday at Morrow Field House.
 
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division loss drops The Rock's record to 14-8 overall and 8-8 in league games while Seton Hill improves to 13-9 overall and 8-8 inside the PSAC.
 
Seton Hill held what seemed like a comfortable 14-point advantage at 48-34 two minutes into the second half before Slippery Rock scored 24 of the next 34 points over the following nine minutes to pull even with the Griffins at 58-58 and still 9:06 left to play. Amante Britt and Khalid Gates combined to score 13 of SRU's points during the run.
 
Slippery Rock and SHU traded baskets over the next two minutes, but with the game again tied at 64-64 any hopes of The Rock completing their comeback were dashed as the Griffins went on a decisive12-2 run to take a double-digit lead SRU could never recover from in the eventual home loss.
 
Gates flirted with a triple-double to pace Slippery Rock as he ended the game with 16 points, nine rebounds, six assists, one block and one steal.
 
Jonathan McFall came off the bench to go for 13 points, seven rebounds and a pair of blocks while Lashon Lindsey was SRU's third athlete in double figures following an 11-point, six-rebound, two-block showing.
 
Britt and Ahmad Galimore added nine points each with Britt also distributing four assists and making two steals. Jomo Goings rounded out The Rock's leaders with six points and three steals.
 
The Griffins shot 50 percent (30-of-60) from the field overall while SRU connected on 43.1 percent (31-of-72) of its attempts Saturday. Seton Hill also made nine 3-pointers on 22 attempts (40 percent) to The Rock's 2-of-16 (12.5 percent) showing from deep and while SRU made all eight of its foul shots, the Griffins went to the line 18 times with 14 successful attempts.
 
Both teams finished with 37 rebounds. SRU committed just 10 turnovers while forcing Seton Hill into 14 mistakes resulting in 16 points off turnovers for SRU.
 
The duo of Samuel Tabe and Sean Dillon led Seton Hill to the victory. Dillon scored a game-high 19 points while Tabe had an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double.
 
Slippery Rock now heads to California (Pa.) for a 7:30 p.m. game Feb. 6. SRU will be going for the season sweep of the Vulcans after defeating Cal at Morrow Field House earlier in the year.





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