CALIFORNIA, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team lost at California (Pa.), 87-63, Monday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division competition.
 
With the loss, Slippery Rock's record drops to 14-9 overall and 8-9 in the PSAC West while California improves to 11-12 overall and 8-9 in league games. The Rock and Vulcans close the regular season splitting two games with each team winning on their respective home courts.
 
Lashon Lindsey scored a career-high 21 points to go with nine rebounds and two steals to lead SRU Monday. Lindsey, who went 8-of-13 from the field overall, connected on four of his seven 3-point attempts.
 
Jomo Goings also finished in double figures with 15 points. Goings earned his point total thanks in part to a 2-for-3 showing from distance and a perfect 5-of-5 night at the foul line. Khalid Gates rounded out The Rock's leading scorers with 10 points as well.
 
Amante Britt chipped in nine points and Jonathan McFall came off the bench to score five points, grab three rebounds and make one steal.
 
In what was a reversal of fortune from SRU's 96-71 victory at home against the Vulcans earlier in the season – a game in which The Rock shot 63 percent from the field –Cal was the team that seemingly couldn't miss in the re-match.
 
The Vulcans closed the game shooting 57.7 percent (30-of-52) from the field overall and 47.4 percent (9-of-19) from 3-point range in addition to converting 18-of-25 free throw attempts (72 percent). Cal also committed just seven turnovers while forcing SRU into 12 miscues and holding a slight +4 (32-28) rebounding advantage.
 
SRU finished the contest shooting 43.1 percent (22-of-51) from the field, 33.3 percent (7-of-21) from 3-point territory and 80 percent (12-of-15) at the foul line.
 
Slippery Rock trailed California by just six points at 29-23 with 6:15 to play in the first half, but the Vulcans proceeded to end the half by scoring 20 of the final 29 points in the period to take a 49-32 advantage into the break.
 
California went on to grow its lead to as many as 27 points late in the second half en route to the eventual 24-point home victory. KJ McClurg scored a team-high 20 points to pace the Vulcans.
 
Slippery Rock returns home to host No. 24 Mercyhurst University 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Morrow Field House. The Rock lost at Mercyhurst, 81-51, earlier in the season.
 

 
 

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