CALIFORNIA, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end following a 94-63 loss Wednesday on the road at California (Pa.).
 
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division setback drops The Rock's record to 9-7 overall and 6-3 in league competition while the Vulcans improve to 8-8 overall and 3-5 in conference play.
 
Slippery Rock could never find its collective footing at the Convocation Center Wednesday, closing the night shooting 30.8 percent (20-of-65) from the field overall, 17.4 percent (4-of-23) from 3-piont range and 70.4 percent (19-of-27) at the foul line. SRU also had a -16 (52-36) rebounding margin.
 
Sheick Samoura led Slippery Rock with 14 points, four rebounds and one steal. Maceo Austin and Bobby Clifford scored nine points apiece with Austin also grabbing a team-high seven rebounds.
 
Jomo Goings and Ike Herster rounded out SRU's leading scorers with seven points each.
 
California scored the first five points of the game and eventually stretched its lead out to 12 points at 18-6 courtesy of an 11-0 run that forced The Rock into a timeout at the 13:37 mark in the opening half.
 
While a Day Waters 3-pointer out of the timeout halted a three-minute scoring drought for The Rock, the stoppage in play did little to quell the California momentum as the Vulcans proceeded to push its lead all the way out to 31-13 entering the under eight media timeout (7:08).
 
Cal shot 49 percent from the floor overall, held a +10 (19-9) rebounding margin and limited SRU to a 30 percent shooting effort from the field in the opening 13 minutes Wednesday's contest.
 
The remainder of the first half saw California continue to firmly dictate the game en route to taking a 57-17 lead into halftime.
 
In contrast to its last two games when Slippery Rock was able to erase halftime deficits and earn back-to-back comeback victories, the Vulcans ensured there would not be a third consecutive rally by trading baskets with The Rock for the majority of the second half on the way to a 31-point home victory.
 
California finished the win shooting 33-for-66 (.500) overall including an 11-for-31 (.355) showing from 3-point territory as well as a 17-for-24 (.708) effort at the foul line. Donald Whitehead Jr. and Cam Polak paced the Vulcans with matching 27-point nights. Keondre DeShields chipped in an 11-point, 15-rebound double-double as well.
 
Slippery Rock returns home for hits final non-conference game of the regular season 3 p.m. Saturday against Penn State New Kensington at Morrow Field House.
 
 



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