SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team once again turned a strong second-half performance into a victory when it bested Pitt-Johnstown, 90-74, Monday at Morrow Field House in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division competition.
 
In addition to improving its record to 9-6 overall and 6-2 in the PSAC, Monday's win pushed SRU's winning streak to seven games, which is the third longest active streak in the Atlantic Region behind only Gannon (12) and West Chester (12).  
 
Inside the program, The Rock's current winning streak is their longest since rattling off 12 consecutive victories during the 2018-19 season.

Slippery Rock was led Monday by the three-pronged attack of Jomo Goings, Maceo Austin and Day Waters: all of whom hit the 20-point plateau.
 
Goings recorded a 22-point, 12-rebound double-double that came alongside three assists, two steals and one block. Goings shot 9-of-13 from the field overall including a pair of 3-pointers while also converting both of his free throw attempts.
 
Austin also had a well-rounded showing against the Mountain Cats with 21 points, four rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal. Waters meanwhile came off the bench to pour in a season-high 20 points thanks in no small part to a 4-of-6 night from 3-point range.
 
Ike Herster was Slippery Rock's fifth athlete in double figures with 10 points while Luke Howes went for eight points, three assists and one steal.
 
Rounding out The Rock's top performers in the win was veteran reserve Bobby Clifford who had five points, five rebounds, two assists and a team-high plus/minus of +18.

For a second straight game Slippery Rock found itself trailing at halftime as the Mountain Cats came out of the break holding a 37-31 advantage. However, for a second straight game an electric second half performance by The Rock paved the way to another victory.
 
While Pitt-Johnstown did briefly stretch its advantage out to eight points at 41-33 with 17:38 to play in regulation, the remainder of the game belonged to Slippery Rock which promptly erased its deficit with an impressive 19-4 run that gave SRU a 52-43 lead at the 13:09 mark in the period.
 
Six Rock athletes accounted for points during the go-ahead run with Howes' producing six of his eight points during the four-minute spurt.
 
The Rock maintained a multiple possession advantage through the remainder of the game with an Austin free throw in the game's waning moments giving SRU its largest lead of the night and capping off a 16-point win.
 
Slippery Rock was practically flawless offensively in the second half. The Rock made 70 percent (21-for-30) of its field goal attempts in the final 20 minutes while committing just four turnovers and out-rebounding UPJ 19-8.
 
Waters (17), Austin (13) and Goings (10) all scored in double figures in the second half. Slippery Rock's 59 points in the second half was its highest 20-minute point total of the year and most since scoring 59 points in the first half against Kutztown last season.

SRU collectively connected on 50 percent (33-of-66) of its field goal attempts on the night, its third game of the year shooting at least 50 percent from the floor. After an uncharacteristically off night from the foul line in its Jan. 3 win over Seton Hill, SRU returned to form from line by converting 17-of-21 attempts (.810).
 
Slippery Rock also matched a season-low with just 10 turnovers committed all the while holding a +7 (37-30) rebounding margin. SRU also scored 17 points off 14 Mountain Cat turnovers.
 
Pitt-Johnstown, which saw its record drop to 7-7 overall and 3-4 in the PSAC, ended the night shooting 49.2 percent (31-of-63) from the field overall, 21.4 percent (3-of-14) from distance and 81.8 percent (9-of-11) at the foul line. Ryan Smith scored 21 points to lead UPJ.
 
Slippery Rock plays the second of its three games this week 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on the road at California (Pa.).






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