SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team led for over 37 minutes on the way to a convincing 77-55 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division victory against Seton Hill University Saturday at Morrow Field House.
 
Slippery Rock has now won seven of its last nine games to improve its record to 11-10 overall and 9-6 inside the PSAC West while Seton Hill drops to 12-9 overall and 7-8 in league games. Saturday's win also gives The Rock a season split with the Griffins, who defeated SRU at home earlier in the year.
 
With seven games remaining in the regular season, Slippery Rock holds a two-game lead for fourth place in the PSAC West standings over both Seton Hill and Mercyhurst University.
 
The top six teams in the Western Division and Eastern Division standings at the end of the regular season qualify for the PSAC Tournament with the top two seeds in each division receiving first-round byes and the No. 3 and No. 4 squads earning the right to host opening-round games.
 
In a game in which eight of the 12 Rock athletes that saw floor scored points, it was Ike Herster and Jomo Goings who shouldered the load offensively as the duo combined to produce 40 points on 14-of-23 shooting from the field overall.
 
Herster led all scorers with a game-high 21 points thanks in part to a 3-for-6 showing from 3-point territory in what was the seventh contest this year that Herster has connected on at least three 3-pointers. Goings meanwhile went for 19 points, five rebounds and three assists.
 
Joining Herster and Goings in double figures for The Rock was Maceo Austin, who put together a well-rounded 12-point, eight-rebound, six-assist, two-steal performance.
 
Sheick Samoura and Bobby Clifford chipped in nine points apiece with Samoura blocking two shots and Clifford pulling down seven rebounds in addition to a rejection of his own.
 
Lashon Lindsey overcame a low scoring output by grabbing a game-best nine rebounds, passing out five assists and blocking one shot. Point guard Luke Howes played 30 minutes and did not commit a turnover for a second consecutive game.
 
The Rock and Griffins traded baskets for the majority of the first half before SRU turned a four-point lead with 5:36 left in the period into a 33-22 advantage heading into the halftime break courtesy of a 13-6 run. Goings led the way with seven points over the spurt.
 
Slippery Rock maintained its double-digit lead for the entirety of the second half as any thoughts of a Seton Hill comeback were permanently put to rest thanks to a 12-3 run over a three-minute stretch midway through the second half when Clifford, Goings and Samoura all hit 3-pointers with Samoura capping off the run with three successful foul shots.
 
SRU grew its lead out to as many as 23 points on four occasions in the late stages of the contest en route to the eventual 22-point triumph.
 
A key to The Rock's victory was a defensive performance that saw SRU limit Seton Hill to a .347 (17-of-49) field goal percentage which included a 4-of-23 tally from 3-point range: a stark contrast from the Griffins' 12 made 3-pointers in SHU's win over SRU on Jan. 5.
 
Entering Saturday, Seton Hill ranked second in the PSAC in made 3-pointers per game with 8.8. SHU was also held to its lowest scoring output of the season.
 
Offensively, Slippery Rock closed the victory shooting 43.5 percent (27-of-62) from the field overall, 37.5 percent (6-of-16) from 3-point range and a season-high 85 percent (17-of-20) at the foul line.
 
SRU produced its highest rebounding margin of the season at +18 (44-26) thanks in part to 15 offensive rebounds which were converted into 17 second chance points. The Rock also committed just 11 turnovers while forcing Seton Hill into 14.
 
Slippery Rock is now 9-1 in games played at Morrow Field House this season.
 
Kedrick Curtis came off the bench to lead the Griffins with 14 points and four rebounds.
 
After playing five games over an 11-day stretch, Slippery Rock will head into a much-needed bye on Feb. 7 before returning to competition with a road game 3 p.m. Feb. 14 at California (Pa.).
 


 
 
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