SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team lost a 70-64 non-conference game to the University of South Carolina Beaufort Saturday at Morrow Field House.
 
The loss moves Slippery Rock's record to 2-6 overall while the Sand Sharks improve to 7-1 on the year.
 
The duo of Ike Herster and Jomo Goings combined for 40 of The Rock's 64 points with Herster posting a game-high 22 and Goings tallying 18.
 
Herster, who went 9-of-17 from the field overall including a pair of 3-pointers, also pulled down eight rebounds while passing out three assists and blocking one shot. Goings meanwhile came up with five steals of his own to increase his season total to a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference best 27.
 
Sheick Samoura and Luke Howes added matching production of eight points and one steal apiece while Samoura also corralled six rebounds. Fellow starter O'Meech Wilson grabbed five rebounds and scored four points in 21 minutes.
 
Off the bench, Bryon Ottrix and Bobby Clifford scored three points each with Ottrix hauling in six rebounds and making two steals.
 
After working its way to a two-point going into the halftime break, Slippery Rock grew its advantage to a game-high nine at 47-38 with 17:17 to play in regulation by beginning the second half with seven consecutive points.
 
The run was sparked by a Goings' 3-pointer and a pair of Samoura buckets around the rim with the second being an emphatic dunk.
 
While The Rock maintained their lead over the following 10 minutes, USC Beaufort continually chipped away at its deficit and eventually evened the game - and took the lead - at 60-59 with 7:11 showing on the clock following a three-point play by Kenney Gains.
 
Slippery Rock promptly re-took the lead on the ensuing possession by way of a layup from Goings.
 
However, with SRU leading 61-60 and 6:47 left to play after Goings' layup The Rock would go on a decisive scoring drought in which they managed just three points accompanied by five turnovers through the remainder of the contest while the Sand Sharks countered by tallying 10 points – five of which came from the free throw line – to cap off the six-point comeback victory.
 
Slippery Rock shot 45.5 percent (25-of-55) from the field overall and limited USCB to a 41.4 percent (24-of-58) showing while also holding +8 (40-32) rebounding margin. Both teams made six 3-pointers as well.
 
However, Slippery Rock committed 29 miscues which the Sand Sharks converted into 21 points off turnovers. While Beaufort had 19 turnovers of its own, SRU was able to only take advantage of the mistakes the tune of 10 points off turnovers.
 
UCSB also made 16-of-23 free throws (.696) while SRU connected on eight of its 12 attempts at the foul line. Gains scored 21 points to lead the Sand Sharks in the victory.
 
Slippery Rock will look to snap its five-game losing streak when it hosts West Virginia Wesleyan College 7 p.m. Dec. 2 at Morrow Field House. The Rock beat the Bobcats, 100-71, a season ago.
 
 


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