SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team overcame a slow start and went toe-to-toe with No. 15 Gannon University, but ultimately couldn't finish off the Golden Knights in a 95-90 overtime loss Wednesday at Morrow Field House.
 
Just its third setback in the last eight games, Wednesday's result moves The Rock's record to 6-9 overall and 4-5 inside the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Of The Rock's nine losses this season, eight have come by single digits. The nationally ranked Golden Knights improve to 14-2 overall and 8-2 in league games following the win.
 
The Rock struggled early on as SRU missed its first 13 field goal attempts of the game which allowed Gannon to build a 13-3 lead over the opening 7:25 of the contest. To its credit, Slippery Rock regrouped after the early slump and proceeded to chip away at its deficit over the near remainder of regulation.  
 
SRU briefly tied the game at 26-26 with 3:14 to play in the opening half before a late GU surge led to a 39-32 Golden Knight edge heading into the halftime break. Gannon went on to push its lead back out to 12 points (56-44) with 12:12 to play in the second half before The Rock's comeback began in earnest.
 
Over the following 10 minutes Slippery Rock took off on an impressive 28-14 capped off by layup and the accompanying successful foul shot from reigning PSAC West Athlete of the Week Ike Herster to give SRU a 72-70 lead with 2:01 to play in regulation.
 
Herster continued his late dominance following the go-ahead score by adding four straight points to push The Rock's lead to 76-70 with 52 seconds showing on the clock.
 
Gannon would answer by way of a three-point play from Josh Omojafo and a layup from Lyle Tempton with a Lashon Lindsey free throw sandwiched in between to cut SRU's lead down to 77-75 at the15 second mark in the half and Slippery Rock holding possession.
 
However, The Rock was unable to successfully inbound the ball as Gannon benefited from a SRU turnover to re-take possession and call a timeout with nine seconds to play. Out of the timeout, Omojao missed a game-tying layup only for Tipton to score off an offensive rebound to send the game into overtime.
 
As was the case most of the game, the extra five-minute overtime period saw both teams trade runs, resulting in an eventual 87-87 tie at the 34-second mark of OT.
 
From there, Gannon was able to outlast SRU as The Rock's foul trouble ultimately caught up to them with both Lindsey and Jomo Goings fouling out in the final stages of the game as GU finished off the win by scoring its final nine points of the game at the foul line for the 95-90 victory.
 
Slippery Rock used a six-man rotation for the majority of the evening with all five starters playing a minimum of 35 minutes against Gannon's constant press that utilizes two five-man platoons.
 
Lindsey and Maceo Austin both turned in double-double performances for The Rock. Austin, who was recently tabbed the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week, scored a team-high 26 points while pulling down 12 rebounds, blocking five shots and making three steals. Lindsey meanwhile posted 11 points, 16 rebounds, three steals, two assists and one block.
 
Lindsey has now turned in three consecutive double-doubles. His big night against Gannon also propelled him up several of Slippery Rock all-time leaderboards as he now ranks 16th in career steals (90) and 19th in rebounds (658) in addition to being just three rejections away from becoming only the fourth player in program history to reach the 100-block plateau.
 
Herster went for 23 points while Goings just missed out on a double-double of his own with 19 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists prior to fouling out.
 
Point guard Luke Howes played an integral role in helping SRU break the Gannon press in addition to tallying six points, four assists and a steal over 35 minutes before exiting with his fifth foul.
 
Bobby Clifford was The Rock's lone reserve to see multiple minutes as the veteran guard provided SRU with five points and four rebounds over 27 minutes of playing time.
 
As a team, Slippery Rock shot 39.7 percent (27-of-68) from the field overall and 82.9 percent (34-of-41) at the foul line, but struggled from distance in the form of a 2-of-23 showing from 3-point range.
 
SRU ended the game holding a +9 rebounding margin (49-41) and blocking six shots; Slippery Rock entered the game ranked third in Division II in blocks at 5.7 per game.
 
Gannon left The Rock having shot 43.3 percent (29-of-67) from the field overall, 30.4 percent (7-of-23) from 3-point territory and 76.9 percent (30-of-39) at the foul line. Both The Rock and Golden Knights committed 18 miscues Wednesday with GU edging SRU in points off turnovers (17-16).
 
Gannon was led by Josh Omojafo and Lyle Tipton. The duo combined to score 51 of Gannon's 95 points.
 
With its three-game homestand now complete, Slippery Rock will take to the road for the first time in two weeks in a 3 p.m. Saturday PSAC West showdown at Pitt-Johnstown.




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