SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team erased a 14-point first half deficit, but couldn't complete its comeback bid in a 70-63 loss Saturday at Seton Hill University.
 
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division loss drops The Rock's record to 4-8 overall and 3-4 in league competition while the host Griffins improve to 9-4 overall and 4-3 inside the PSAC.
 
Luke Howes led all players with game-highs of 15 and three steals. Howes earned his second-highest scoring total of the season by converting 6-of-10 field goal attempts, which included an impressive 3-for-4 performance from 3-point range.
 
Bobby Clifford and Ike Herster came off the bench to finish in double figures as well with 13 and 11 points, respectfully. Clifford, who also grabbed six rebounds, has now registered at least 10 points in back-to-back games.
 
The quartet of Lashon Lindsey, Ja'Mier Fletcher, Jomo Goings and Maceo Austin rounded out The Rock's scoring with six points apiece.
 
Lindsey also produced eight rebounds, five assists and a steal while Fletcher blocked two shots and pulled down eight rebounds of his own. Goings passed out four assists as well.
 
SRU committed a near season-low seven turnovers, but ultimately couldn't overcome a Seton Hill shooting performance that saw the Griffins connect on 12-of-30 3-point attempts (.400).
 
Slippery Rock was plagued by a slow start that led to Seton Hill jumping out to a 14-point, 19-5, lead over the opening nine minutes of regulation before The Rock found their stride and began chipping away at the deficit throughout the remainder of the half.
 
A 10-1 run over the final five minutes of the period resulted in SHU having its double-digit lead shrink to just four points at 28-24 heading into the break. Herster and Lindsey combined to score eight points over the late run.
 
Slippery Rock remained hot coming out of halftime by scoring eight of the second half's first 11 points on the way to its first lead of the day via a jumper from Howes at 16:55. The Rock and Griffins proceeded to trade baskets for the following 11 minutes en route to a 53-53 tie heading into the media timeout with 5:50 to play in regulation.
 
However, the comeback was not to be as Seton Hill scored six straight points coming out of the timeout to take a lead it would never relinquish as the Griffins held off SRU down the stretch for the seven-point victory.
 
Slippery Rock closed the game shooting 39.3 percent (24-for-61) from the field to go with a 31.3 percent (5-of-16) outing from deep and a 76.9 percent (10-of-13) day at the foul line.
 
Seton Hill was led by Drew Green, who totaled 15 points to go along with six rebounds and one steal. Dimitri Sklavenitis added 10 points as well for the Griffins.
 
Seven of The Rock's eight losses this season have come by single digits.
 
Slippery Rock will step out of PSAC West competition for the final time in the 2023-24 regular season when it hosts Davis & Elkins College 6 p.m. Jan. 8 at Morrow Field House.
 



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