SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team continued its hot start to the 2025-26 season with a 92-81 victory over Glenville State University Tuesday at Morrow Field House.
 
The victory improves The Rock's record to 4-1 through the early stages of the year while the visiting Pioneers drop to 3-2. Three of SRU's four wins this season have been decided by a minimum of 11 points.
 
Slippery Rock had four players finish in double figures Tuesday, led by a 26-point, four-assist, one-steal performance by RJ Sledge, who recorded the fourth-highest point total by a Rock freshman in the last 25 years on efficient shooting of 7-for-10 overall, 4-for-7 from 3-point range and a near flawless 8-of-9 showing at the foul line.  
 
Isaac James continued to do a little bit of everything for SRU, finishing with 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists and one steal. Like Sledge, James picked up his season-high point total with efficient shooting in the form of a 6-for-9 effort from the field, including one 3-pointer, as well as making 3-of-4 foul shots.
 
Brady Mayo followed the leads set by Sledge and James with career-high point production of his own, closing the win with 15 points, seven rebounds, two steals and one assist. Ike Herster was the final Rock athlete in double figures at 11 points in addition to two steals and one block.
 
Sheick Samoura came off the bench to finish just short of a double-double at nine points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Samoura, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's leader in total blocks (9), has registered multiple rejections in four of SRU's five games this year to jump up to 19th in program history for blocks in a career at 51.
 
Rounding out The Rock's top performers was Elijah Hill (7 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block) and Dame Givner (8 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block).

As has been the case for much of the year, Slippery Rock once again shot well as a team at 50 percent (27-of-54) overall, 43.5 percent (10-of-23) from 3-point range and 77.8 percent (28-of-36) at the foul line. Glenville State entered the game holding opponents to the fifth lowest 3-point shooting percentage in the country and ranked 23rd in overall opponent field goal percentage defense.
 
SRU's 10 made 3-pointers were a season-best as was the 28 successful free throws.
 
Slippery Rock finished out the win holding a +3 rebounding margin (39-36). While The Rock did commit 20 turnovers, they also forced the Pioneers into 18 miscues which were converted into 22 points of turnovers.
 
Glenville State jumped out to a nine-point, 18-9, advantage five minutes into regulation only for Slippery Rock to score 35 of following 55 points through the remainder of the opening half to take a 46-38 lead into intermission.
 
While Glenville State cut its deficit to one possession twice in the second half, it could never overtake The Rock which kept their perfect record inside Morrow Field House intact with the eventual 11-point decision. SRU made 12 of its 21 field goal attempts in the final 20 minutes.
 
Glenville State left Morrow Field House shooting 40.3 percent (29-of-72) overall, 31.4 percent (11-of-35) from distance and 75 percent (12-of-16) at the foul line. Elijah Redfern and Ammar Maxwell had 16 points apiece with Maxwell also grabbing 10 rebounds.
 
Slippery Rock returns to competition on the road 1 p.m. Sunday at D'Youville University.



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