SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team earned a 64-54 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division victory against Clarion Wednesday at Morrow Field House.
 
SRU has now won two straight games, and four of its last five games, to improve its record to 8-9 overall and 6-5 inside the PSAC. Clarion has now lost four straight to drop to 6-12 overall and 4-8 in league games.
 
The duo of Ike Herster and Maceo Austin combined to score 40 of The Rock's 64 points with Herster pouring in a game-high 21 points and Austin adding 19 points, six rebounds, three steals and one block.

Herster has now scored at least 21 points in three of The Rock's last four outings.
 
Lashon Lindsey posted his eighth double-double of the season by finishing with 10 points, 10 rebounds, one block and one steal. Jomo Goings came just short of a double-double as well following an eight-point, eight-rebound, six-assist, four-block, three-steal performance.
 
Point guard Luke Howes helped to anchor The Rock's defensive effort with a season-high matching four steals. Off the bench, Nik Cazacu tallied four points and two rebounds while Bobby Clifford grabbed two rebounds and came up with one steal as well.
 
While SRU shot just 39.7 percent (23-of-58) from the field overall, it enjoyed a great night from 3-point territory following a 9-of-21 outing from distance. Herster shouldered the load from long range by connecting on 6-of-9 attempts.
 
The Rock and Golden Eagles traded baskets for opening 12 minutes of the first half with SRU eventually eking its way out to a 19-17 lead. Slippery Rock proceeded to close the half on a 17-9 run to take 12-point, 38-26 lead into the break.
 
Austin accounted eight of the points during the decisive run that ended the half.
 
Slippery Rock struggled offensively to begin the second half as The Rock made just two field goals in the opening 11:14 minutes of the final period which allowed Clarion to trim its deficit down to six points (46-40).
 
However, SRU re-grouped and ended any thoughts of a Clarion comeback by closing the game strong en route to its fifth double-digit win of 2023-24. Just as he did to end the first half, Austin was once again strong down the stretch in the second half with eight of The Rock's final 15 points.
 
The Rock finished off the win by forcing Clarion into 19 turnovers thanks in part to a season-high 12 steals in addition to blocking six shots for what was SRU's 12th game this season with five or more rejections.
 
Jeremy Thomas II guided Clarion's efforts with an 18-point, 14-rebound double-double. The Golden Eagles, which held a slight +4 (40-36) rebounding margin, shot 37.3 percent (22-of-59) from the field overall, 30.4 percent (7-of-23) from 3-point range and 60 percent (3-of-5) at the foul line.
 
Slippery Rock returns to the road for a 3 p.m. Saturday showdown at Indiana University (Pa.).






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