SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Jomo Goings hit a jumper with 3.7 seconds left in regulation to lift the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team to a 71-69 victory over Seton Hill University Monday at Morrow Field House in the first round of the 2024 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament.
 
Slippery Rock improves its record to 16-13 overall with the win, but most importantly keeps its season alive with a 6 p.m. Wednesday game at California (Pa.) on deck in the quarterfinal round of the PSAC Tournament.
 
In addition to being The Rock's first postseason victory since the 2017-18 season, the win also gives SRU a 13-1 record in games played at Morrow Field House this year. Since its opening in 1959, there have been just four other teams in program history to compile at least 13 victories in a season at Morrow Field House.

When Slippery Rock needed points the most it was Goings who took over the game. The redshirt sophomore continued his breakout season by scoring 12 of The Rock's final 15 points and making his last five field goal attempts.
 
The Rock and Griffins traded baskets for majority of opening 27 minutes Monday before SRU took a short-lived eight-point advantage at 48-40 and just under 13 minutes to play.
 
Not to be outdone, the Griffins stormed back with a 26-10 run over the following eight minutes, pushing SRU to the brink of elimination with a 66-58 lead going into the game's waning moments.
 
Slippery Rock recovered from the SHU onslaught by scoring 10 consecutive points as Goings accounted for eight points courtesy of a jumper and a pair of 3-pointers with two Maceo Austin free throws mixed in over the spurt to help SRU re-claim its lead at 68-66 and 2:25 showing on the clock.
 
Drew Green had one final answer for the Griffins as they attempted to keep their season alive via a go-ahead 3-pointer at the 1:51 mark in the half.
 
The two evenly matched teams proceeded to exchange empty possessions until Lashon Lindsey was fouled collecting the 14th of his game-high 15 rebounds. Lindsey would then step to the foul line and convert 1-of-2 attempts to push the game into a 69-69 tie with 51 seconds to play.
 
Seton Hill's Ryan Meis missed a fadeaway jumper on the ensuing possession, with the rebound quickly being pulled in by Lindsey leading to a Rock timeout and 22.2 seconds remaining in regulation.
 
Coming out of the timeout, Slippery Rock ran the clock down off the inbound to under seven seconds before Sheick Samoura found Goings just inside the foul line.

Goings took the pass and released a jumper that sailed over the outstretched arms of six-foot nine-inch tall Jimmy Moon, bounced off the back of the rim and rattled home to give Slippery Rock a two-point edge and only 3.7 seconds left.
 

MBB: JOMO GOINGS WINS IT!!! Slippery Rock scores with 3.7 seconds left and Seton Hill turns it over without getting a shot off. The Rock rallied back from down 8 in the final 4 minutes to win 71-69. SRU travels to No. 2 seed Cal (Pa.) Wednesday night for a 6 p.m. game. pic.twitter.com/VHWMNFsbJ6

— Rock Athletics (@Rock_Athletics) March 5, 2024

Following Goings' clutch shot, a full court inbounds pass by Seton Hill was deflected out of bounds by Slippery Rock which gave the Griffins one final attempt under their own basket. However, an errant inbounds pass resulted in Austin collecting the game-clinching steal as time expired.

Goings led all players with a game-high 19 points to go along with two blocks and a steal. Austin had an equally impressive stat line of 16 points, nine rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block.
 
Samoura and Ike Herster also finished in double figures at 10 and 13 points, respectively. Lindsey's 15 boards served as his 14th double-digit rebound effort of the year. He also provided The Rock with five points, five assists and two blocks.
 
Bobby Clifford came off the bench to go for four points, eight rebounds and two steals while Luke Howes rounded out The Rock's top performers with six points and a steal.
 
Slippery Rock closed the night shooting 39.1 percent (25-of-64) from the field overall, 32.1 percent (9-of-28) from 3-point range and 80 percent (12-of-15) at the foul line. SRU forced the Griffins into 16 turnovers while blocking six shots and holding a +3 (39-36) rebounding margin.
 
The Griffins shot 44.4 percent (28-for-63) from the floor overall and 36.7 percent (11-of-30) from 3-point range. Meis led SHU with 14 points. Seton Hill's season ends with the Griffins holding a 16-13 overall record.
 
Slippery Rock has now played in 12 games this season decided by five points or less.
 
The Rock heads into their quarterfinal game against California (Pa.) on Wednesday having split the regular season series with the Vulcans as both teams won on their own home courts.
 
A victory over California would send SRU into its first PSAC Tournament semifinal game since the 2012-13 season.




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