ERIE, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team wrapped up its regular season schedule with a 69-51 loss at Mercyhurst University Saturday.
 
Saturday's result moves The Rock's record to 15-13 overall and 13-9 inside the PSAC while the Lakers improve to 15-15 overall and 11-11 in league competition. With the regular season now concluded, Slippery Rock shifts its focus to the PSAC Tournament.
 
The Rock will be making their seventh consecutive appearance in the PSAC Tournament. Despite its loss to Mercyhurst, SRU still clinched the third seed out of the PSAC West due to owning the tiebreaker over Indiana University (Pa.).
 
As the third seed in the Western Division, Slippery Rock has earned the right to host sixth-seeded Seton Hill University in a first-round PSAC Tournament game 7 p.m. Monday at Morrow Field House.
 
SRU and SHU split two games in the regular season with each team winning on their respective home courts. Slippery Rock has been nearly perfect when playing at home this season with a 12-1 record inside the walls of Morrow Field House.
 
Slippery Rock had its season-long four-game winning streak snapped Saturday after never being able to find its comfort zone on the road. SRU committed a near season-high 22 turnovers while shooting season-lows of 34.1 percent (15-of-44) from the field overall and 0.77 percent (1-for-13) from 3-point range.
 
SRU did convert 20-of-26 free throw attempts (.769) in addition to holding a +3 (32-29) rebounding margin over the Lakers.
 
Maceo Austin just missed out on a double-double for The Rock with 12 points and nine rebounds to go along with two steals. Lashon Lindsey joined Austin in double figures with 10 points as well.
 
Jomo Goings scored nine points, collected five rebounds and accounted for Slippery Rock's lone block of the game. Sheick Samoura rounded out SRU's top performers by coming off the bench to tally seven points, five rebounds and two steals.
 
Mercyhurst jumped out to a 14-0 lead over the game's opening six minutes to take a double-digit lead it would never relinquish. The Lakers carried a 14-point advantage into the halftime break before growing their lead out to as many as 21 in the second half en route to the 69-51 victory.
 
The Lakers were led by Aidan Reichert who went for 24 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Sean Fullerton (19) and Jeff Planutis (13) also finished in double figures for Mercyhurst.
 
As a team, Mercyhurst shot 45 percent (27-for-60) from the field overall, 25 percent (5-for-20) from distance and 90 percent (10-for-11) at the foul line. MU scored 27 points off of Rock turnovers.
 
The Rock and Mercyhurst split their season series with each team recording a home victory. Like SRU, Mercyhurst also qualified for the PSAC Tournament. The Lakers will travel to IUP for its opening-round game.
 
 



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