FAIRMONT, W. Va. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team erased a 16-point deficit in the first half to take a lead with 5:48 remaining in regulation, but fifth-ranked Fairmont State University was able to stave off SRU's comeback bid in a 93-89 victory Saturday at Joe Retton Arena.
 
The close non-conference loss was The Rock's first blemish of the 2025-26 season as SRU drops to 3-1 on the year while nationally ranked Fairmont State also saw its record move to 3-1 following Saturday's result.
 
Five of the nine players to take the court for Slippery Rock Saturday finished in double figures. Dame Givner led the way with 21 points. He went 6-for-12 from the field overall, including a 4-of-7 showing from 3-point range, while also converting 5-of-6 free throw attempts.
 
Givner, who also scored 24 points in The Rock's victory over Wheeling on Wednesday, scored 19 of his team-high point total in the second half.
 
Ike Herster added 14 points thanks in part to a perfect 3-for-3 mark from distance as well as grabbing five rebounds. In hitting his trio of triples, Herster became just the 11th athlete in program history to make 100 3-pointers in a career.
 
Isaac James scored 12 points in addition to pulling in a team-best eight rebounds while the reserve duo of RJ Sledge and Sheick Samoura tallied 11 points apiece with Samoura blocking two shots and Sledge dishing out a Rock-best four assists.
 
Brady Mayo scored nine points and two steals and Mack Staunch scored six points while corralling five rebounds – four of which came on the offensive glass – to round out The Rock's top performers.
 
FSU made 10 of its first 14 field goal attempts and forced five early Rock turnovers to jump out to a 23-7 advantage eight minutes into regulation.
 
However, despite the early setback and being without several members of its standard rotation due to injury, Slippery Rock answered back from the early onslaught from Fairmont State by outscoring the Falcons, 34-28, through the remainder of the period to cut its deficit down to 10 points heading into the halftime break.
 
The Rock continued to be the aggressors coming out of halftime as SRU scored 14 of the first 15 points in the second half to take a 55-52 lead with 15:59 to play in regulation. Samoura scored six points in the run.
 
The two evenly matched teams proceeded to go back-and-forth over the following 10 minutes, exchanging the lead 12 times. With 5:29 to play, Slippery Rock held a 78-77 lead.
 
However, a short-handed Slippery Rock's upset bid ended there as SRU missed its final four field goal attempts in addition to foul trouble hampering The Rock down the stretch. While Fairmont State had a subpar game at the foul line overall, the Falcons were able to convert nine of its final 10 free throws in the game's waning moments to help secure an eventual four-point victory.
  
Slippery Rock closed the game shooting 45.9 percent (28-of-61) from the field overall, including a season-best performance from 3-point range (45 percent / 9-of-20). SRU also finished a solid 75 percent (24-of-32) at the foul line. The Rock made a near season-low 14 turnovers.
 
Fairmont State overcame a 7-for-22 (.318) effort from 3-point range to still shoot 49.2 percent (31-of-63) overall. Fairmont State's late clutch foul shooting boosted the Falcons' free throw percentage to 63.2 percent (24-for-38).
 
FSU held a slim +4 (37-33) rebounding margin over The Rock while committing only 11 turnovers. Drey Carter posted a 24-point, 11-reobund double-double to pace five FSU athletes in double figures.
 
Slippery Rock looks to return to its winning ways when it hosts Glenville State College 5 p.m. Nov. 25 at Morrow Field House.





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