SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Rudy Fitzgibbons III hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift Fairmont State University past the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team, 78-75, Saturday at Morrow Field House.
 
The last-second loss moves The Rock's record to 2-2 overall while Fairmont State exits SRU at an undefeated 3-0. All four of Slippery Rock's games this season have been decided by eight points or less with its two losses being one-score decisions.
 
As has been the case in all of Slippery Rock's games this season, Saturday's bout was another back-and-forth contest that featured a combined 22 lead changes and 24 ties between what figures to be two of the better teams in the Atlantic Region this year.
 
SRU brought a five-point, 40-35, lead into the halftime break while FSU countered by accounting for 20 of the first 30 points of the second half to grab a five-point edge of its own only for The Rock to rattle off five consecutive points to pull the contest even at 55-55 with 11:58 to play in regulation.
 
The Rock and Fighting Falcons traded baskets for the next 10 minutes before Jomo Goings drove the paint and converted a layup to push Slippery Rock back ahead, 75-72, with 59 seconds to play. However, Goings' basket proved to be the final points of the night for Slippery Rock.
 
Fairmont State drew a foul and converted 1-of-2 accompanying free throws on the ensuing possession and quickly forced a Rock turnover that gave way to a game-tying layup by Tyheil Peterson with 33.3 seconds showing on the clock.
 
Following a pair of Rock timeouts, a potential go-ahead 3-pointer by Goings was off target and scooped up by FSU, which led to a Falcon timeout and 4.3 second left in the half.   
 
Out of the timeout, Tommy Williams made an inbounds pass to Fitzgibbons III, who pushed the ball from the backcourt to two feet off the 3-point line before releasing an attempt that found the bottom of the net as time expired, giving FSU the win.
 
Goings and Ike Herster shared game-high scoring honors at 21 points apiece. Goings also tallied five rebounds, five assists and a steal. The duo combined to shoot 12-of-23 from the field overall and 7-of-14 from 3-point range.
 
For a second consecutive game, Day Waters finished in double figures with 17 points in addition to a pair of blocks. Fellow starters Luke Howes and Bobby Clifford scored six and five points, respectively. Howes also dished out four assists, grabbed five rebounds and made two steals.
 
Off the bench, Sheick Samoura pulled down five rebounds and was one of four reserves – along with Mack Staunch, Bryon Ottrix and Alex Griggs – to come up with one steal.
 
Slippery Rock had its best shooting performance from 3-point range of the season, going 12-for-27 (.444) from distance as part of a 42.3 overall field goal percentage (22-of-52) and a 19-for-25 (.760) showing at the foul line.
 
After committing 41 turnovers in its first two games of the season, SRU continued its trend of taking care of possession by making just 12 miscues for a second consecutive contest.
 
Fairmont ended the win shooting 50 percent (30-of-60) from the field overall, committing only 11 turnovers and holding a narrow +1 rebounding margin (35-34) over The Rock. David Jolinder recorded a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double to pace the Falcons.
 
Slippery Rock continues its season-long three-game homestand 5 p.m. Friday against West Chester University in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference crossover competition at Morrow Field House.




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