SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Maceo Austin blocked a potential game-tying layup as time expired to secure a 78-76 comeback victory for the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team against Davis & Elkins College Monday at Morrow Field House.
 
The non-conference win improves The Rock's record to 5-8 overall while the Senators, which were ranked 10th in this week's D2CSC Atlantic Region poll, drop to 8-4 on the year. SRU is 5-0 in games played at Morrow Field House this season and have now won 11 straight non-conference games at home dating back to the 2021-22.
 
Davis & Elkins led by as many as 14 points with 5:40 to play in the first half before Slippery Rock embarked on an impressive 45-23 run over the following 15:04 of game time to climb all the way back and take an eight-point advantage at 61-53 with 10:36 remaining in regulation.
 
The big run was dominated by Austin and Ike Herster, who combined to score 27 points over the spurt.
 
To their credit, the Senators responded from SRU's run as they slowly chipped away at The Rock's lead over the remainder of the second half, eventually pushing the contest into a 76-76 tie courtesy of a three-point play by Vadim Clanet with 1:48 to play.
 
Bobby Clifford drew a foul on the ensuing possession after Clanet's score to head to the foul line. While Clifford missed two attempts, Lashon Lindsey was able to salvage the series by tipping in the second foul shot to give SRU a narrow two-point lead.
 
Slippery Rock and Davis & Elkins proceeded to trade four scoreless possessions following Lindsey's tip-in, resulting in the Senators regaining possession for a final time off another missed SRU foul shot in the game's waning moments and Sam Rolle IV driving the length of the floor off the rebound with 5.8 seconds remaining.
 
As he did throughout the game, Rolle IV dashed to the basket and released a potential game-tying attempt at the buzzer. However, Austin preserved The Rock's two-point victory by blocking the last-second shot as time expired.
 
Austin closed the game with a 27-point, 10-rebound double-double that included three steals, two blocks and two assists. He matched his career-high point total by going 10-for-20 from the floor, 2-of-4 from 3-point range and 5-for-8 at the foul line.
 
Herster was SRU's second-leading scorer with 15 points and six rebounds.
 
Lindsey picked up his fifth double-double of the season by way of 10 points and 11 rebounds in addition to two steals and one block. Luke Howes continued his string of solid play as well with 12 points, three assists and one steal.
 
Sheick Samoura anchored The Rock's shot blocking efforts with three rejections, marking the third time in the last four games the redshirt freshman has tallied multiple blocks. Clifford produced a pair of blocks as well.
 
The Rock shot 39.1 percent (27-of-69) from the field overall, 35.7 percent (5-of-14) from 3-point range and 76 percent (19-of-25) at the foul line while holding a +6 (46-40) rebounding margin.
 
SRU, which entered the game ranked fourth in the nation in blocks per game, matched a season-best with eight more rejections Monday.
 
Monday's contest also served as the 100th game played in the careers of both Lindsey and Nik Cazacu. They become the 16th and 17th athletes in program history to have played in at least 100 games.
 
Additionally, the victory gives Slippery Rock a season-split with Davis & Elkins: The Rock and Senators also played earlier in the season with D&E earning a home victory of its own.
 
The Senators exited Morrow Field House shooting 42.9 percent (30-of-70) from the field, 30.4 percent (7-of-23) from 3-point range and 81.8 percent (9-of-11) from the foul line. Rolle IV paced Davis & Elkins with 23 points, four assists and three steals.
 
Slippery Rock now returns to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division competition when it hosts nationally ranked California (Pa.) 3 p.m. Saturday at Morrow Field House in the second of its season-long three-game homestand.





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