SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team led wire-to-wire in a 97-77 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference victory over Kutztown University Wednesday at Morrow Field House.
 
Wednesday's win, The Rock's third in their last four games, improves SRU's record to 4-7 overall and 3-3 inside the PSAC while the visiting Golden Bears drop to 1-11 and 0-6 in league competition.
 
On a night when every active member of the program saw playing time, 11 of which scored points, it was Maceo Austin who once again led the offensive charge via a dominant 27-point, six-rebound, two-steal performance in which he connected on 10-of-15 shot attempts overall including a 3-of-4 effort from 3-point range in addition to going 4-for-5 at the foul line.
 
Austin is shooting 54.1 percent (40-of-74) and averaging 21 points per game over SRU's last five contests.
 
Joining Austin in double figures for The Rock were reserves Ike Herster and Bobby Clifford. Herster produced 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting while going 5-for-6 at the foul line and Clifford totaled a season-high 10 points.
 
Jomo Goings just missed out on a double-double with eight points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Luke Howes and Ja'Mier Fletcher matched Goings with eight points apiece in addition to Howes dishing out three assists and Fletcher pulling down five rebounds accompanied by one rejection.
 
Lashon Lindsey grabbed a game-best 10 rebounds to go with five assists, four points, one block and one steal. Sheick Samoura also did a little bit of everything for The Rock as the redshirt freshman tallied seven points, four assists, three blocks and two steals.
 
Rounding out Slippery Rock's top performers were Enire Bowens (three points), Malik Robinson (one assist, one block), Mack Staunch (two points, one rebound), Bryon Ottrix (two points, one assist) and Colin McQuiston (one assist).
 
Slippery Rock put the contest away early by storming out to a decisive 41-12 lead through the game's opening 12 minutes after making 16 of its first 20 field goal attempts, including a perfect 5-for-5 showing from distance, and forcing eight Kutztown turnovers. Clifford scored 10 points over the run.
 
In what was one of The Rock's best 20-minute stretches of the season, SRU closed the first half by trading baskets with the Golden Bears to take a commanding 59-27 lead into the break. All told, The Rock hit 63.6 percent (21-for-33) of its field goal attempts in the first half, including an efficient 6-of-9 showing from 3-point territory.
 
Slippery Rock's sizable halftime lead was more than enough to make up for what was often a sloppy final 20 minutes as The Rock's advantage was never truly threatened in the second half on the way to a 20-point victory.
 
In addition to shooting 50.7 percent (36-of-71) from the field overall, 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from distance and a near automatic 80 percent (16-of-20) at the free throw line on the offensive end of the floor, SRU also set a season-high with 11 steals while matching a single-game best in blocks with eight defensively in addition to scoring 22 points off 17 Kutztown turnovers.
 
SRU ended the night with +5 rebounding margin (42-37). The Rock's 15 offensive rebounds were converted into 17 second chance points.
 
Kutztown was led by Jaiden McGhee, who scored 23 points. As a team, the Golden Bears shot 41.3 percent (26-of-63) from the field overall, 18.2 percent (2-for-11) from 3-point range and 67.6 percent (23-for-34) at the free throw line.
 
Slippery Rock now begins the 16-game round robin PSAC West portion of its 2023-24 schedule 3 p.m. Saturday on the road at Seton Hill University.







To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on 'X' (formerly Twitter, @Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).