SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team lost its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opener to West Chester University, 81-64, Friday at Morrow Field House.
 
The setback moves The Rock's record to 2-3 overall and 0-1 inside the PSAC while the visiting Golden Rams earned their third consecutive victory to improve to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in league competition.
 
West Chester took a narrow 39-37 advantage into the halftime break following a back-and-forth opening 20 minutes. The second half appeared headed the same way early on as both teams traded baskets before a quick 6-0 Rock run, which was capped off by a Jomo Goings layup, gave SRU a 45-41 lead and forced a WCU timeout with 16:23 to play.
 
However, Goings' basket turned out to be the high-water mark for Slippery Rock Friday as SRU proceeded to go scoreless over the following 6:27 which allowed the Golden Rams to erase their deficit and build out a 12-point advantage they would never relinquish en route to the eventual 17-point victory.
 
Ike Herster was one of two Rock athletes to finish in double figures after turning in a 23-point, five-rebound, one-steal performance in which he shot 8-for-16 from the field overall, 3-for-7 from 3-point range and a perfect 4-of-4 at the foul line. Herster has now scored at least 21 points in SRU's last two games.
 
O'Meech Wilson was a force for The Rock defensively with seven blocks and 11 rebounds – all of which were on the defensive glass. Wilson's seven rejections are tied for the third most by a Rock athlete in single-game program history and were the most since Erik Raleigh blocked eight shots against Millersville University during the 2014-15 season.
 
Goings came off the bench to go for 15 points, three rebounds, two steals and a block. Maceo Austin and Day Waters chipped in eight points apiece with Austin also compiling six rebounds, four assists and a block.
 
Rounding out SRU's top performers was Luke Howes with six points, three assists, one block and one steal.
 
While neither Slippery Rock (.356) or West Chester (.379) shot particularly efficiently from the field, the Golden Rams were able to control the glass with a +17 (53-36) rebounding margin including 22 offensive rebounds which were turned into 24 second chance points in addition to securing 22 points off 15 SRU turnovers.
 
Slippery also shot 26.3 percent (5-of-19) from 3-point range and 70.8 percent (17-of-24) from the foul line. SRU did block 11 shots, marking the eighth time since 1999 that a Rock team recorded at least 11 rejections in a game.
 
West Chester converted 26.7 percent (4-of-15) of its 3-point attempts and was 27-of-38 (.711) at the foul line. Elijah Allen scored a game-high 25 points to lead WCU in the win.
 
Slippery Rock continues PSAC crossover play Saturday against Millersville at Morrow Field House. Opening tip is set for 3 p.m.




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