Game Notes - Tickets

GAME PROGRAM INFO
Slippery Rock has moved away from printed game programs for all sports. This page will serve as the "Digital Game Program" for this week's game. To navigate to all gameday info for any SRU home events this year, simply visit rockathletics.com/gameday or scan the QR code on the "Gameday Info" posters hanging in each facility.
 

Slippery Rock vs. Shepherd
The Rock (8-1, 1-0)	Rams (4-4, 0-1)
Roster	Roster
Schedule	Schedule
Statistics	Statistics
Coach Ian Grady	Coach Justin Namolik
Program Records	Program Records
PSAC Standings
PSAC Leaders
PSAC Schedule
Morrow Field House
Tickets
Game Notes

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - After completing the early stage of the 2025-26 season with just one loss, the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team now turns its focus to a stretch of 19 consecutive Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference games starting 5 p.m. Tuesday when it hosts Shepherd University at Morrow Field House.
 
TICKET PRICES
Fans are encouraged to purchase advance tickets online HERE.
Adult General Admission: $10
Visiting Student with valid student ID: $5
Ages 7-High School: $5
Ages 6 and Under: FREE
SRU Students: FREE with valid student ID
Game Day Sales Only
Alumni (w/ Valid ID): $8
Faculty/Staff: $8
 
WATCH ON YOUR TV - "ROCK ATHLETICS DIGITAL NETWORK" APPS
• Fans can watch Tuesday's game live and on-demand for free on the Rock Athletics Digital Network, created and operated by the SRU athletic communication office.
 
• Search for Rock Athletics Digital Network in the app stores on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku and Android TV devices. The streaming web player linked above will also integrate with Chrome Cast devices to allow viewers to cast the game to those devices.
 
GAME 10 DETAILS
Opponent: Shepherd University
Date: Tuesday – 5 p.m.
Location: Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
Venue: Morrow Field House
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
Tickets: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter/X (@Rock_Athletics)
 
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: SRU leads 8-7
Current Streak: SRU W2
At Morrow Field House: Slippery Rock leads 4-1
First Meeting: Dec. 1, 1966 (SRU won 100-61)
Last Meeting: Dec. 18, 2023 (SRU won 63-57, OT)
Most Points, SRU: 100 - Dec. 1, 1966
Most Points, SU: 101 - Feb. 17, 1968
Largest Victory, SRU: 39 (100-61), Dec. 1, 1966
Largest Victory, SU: 17 (69-52), Jan. 7, 1986)
SRU coach Ian Grady vs. Shepherd: 2-1
SU coach Justin Namolik vs. SRU: 2-6
 
• Slippery Rock has won six of its last eight games against Shepherd over the last 17 years to improve its record in the all-time series to 8-7, including a 4-1 mark against the Rams at Morrow Field House.
 
• Of late, the competition between The Rock and Rams have been tight contests with the largest margin of victories in the last four games, two of which were decided in overtime, being only six points.
 
• Slippery Rock and Shepherd last met during the 2023-24 season with The Rock earning a 63-57 overtime decision at home. Maceo Austin led SRU in the win with a 23-point, seven-rebound, three-steal performance.
 
• Other current Rock athletes that played in SRU's win over Shepherd include Mack Staunch (4 rebounds), Ike Herster (2 points, 1 steal) and Sheick Samoura (2 blocks).
 
• Marcus Banks is the only current Ram athlete that played in the 2023 game. He had 11 points, eight rebounds and two steals off the bench.
 
RECORDS
Slippery Rock welcomes the Rams on a five-game winning streak which has improved its record to a near perfect 8-1. Shepherd comes to Morrow Field House at 4-4 overall and 0-1 inside the PSAC. 

LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock edged Lake Erie, 74-73, at home on Dec. 9 while Shepherd edged Seton Hill in overtime, 66-63. 
 

TEAM COMPARISON
THE ROCK	STAT	RAMS
85.6	Points per Game	70.1
74.9	Opp. Points per Game	74.5
48.5%	Field Goal Pct.	41.5%
40.1%	Opp. Field Goal Pct.	44.6%
34.4%	3-Point Pct.	34.3%
25.4%	Opp 3-Point Pct.	33.1%
6.2	3-Pointers Made per Game	7.3
73.9%	Free Throw Pct.	73.5%
42.7	Rebounds per Game	38.3
34.7	Opp. Rebounds per Game	35.0
+8.0	Rebounding Margin	+3.3
13.8	Assists	10.0
-3.3	Turnover Margin	-4.6
7.3	Steals	5.4
2.9	Blocks	2.3
Per game averages

SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• Overall Record: 8-1
• PSAC Record: 1-0
• PSAC West Standings: t-1st
• Home Record: 6-0
• Away Record: 2-1
• Streak: W5
• Last 5 Games: 5-0
• Head Coach: Ian Grady | Eighth season (107-77)

QUICK LAKE ERIE RECAP
Slippery Rock extended its winning streak to a season-long five games with a 74-73 victory over Lake Erie Dec. 9 at Morrow Field House.
 
While SRU led for over 32 minutes in the win it saw a 15-point lead in the first half completely disappear as the Storm pushed The Rock to the brink before a game-saving block by Elijah Hill at the buzzer kept Slippery Rock's winning streak, and perfect home record, intact.
 
Slippery Rock overcame a season-high tying 29 turnovers against Lake Erie's aggressive full court press by shooting 50 percent from the field and 72.4 percent (21-of-29) at the foul line.

SECOND MOST WINS IN ATLANTIC REGION
Slippery Rock enters the Shepherd game holding the second-highest win total in the Atlantic Region behind only Shaw (10). Three of Shaw's 10 wins have come against teams from outside NCAA Division II.
 
A HISTORIC START
Slippery Rock has now won at least eight of its first nine games for the ninth time in the program's 115-year history. A victory against Shepherd would give SRU a 9-1 record, putting this year's team among just eight other Slippery Rock squads that have won at least nine of its first 10 games.
 
Best 10-Game Starts in SRU History (Head Coach)
t1. 1923-24: 10-0 (N Kerr Thompson)
t1. 2009-10: 10-0 (Kevin Reynolds)
t3. 1924-25: 9-1 (N. Kerr Thompson)
t3. 1952-53: 9-1 (Bob Smiley)
t3. 1963-64: 9-1 (Hank Baierl)
t3. 1990-91: 9-1 (Bob Barlett)
t3. 2022-23: 9-1 (Ian Grady)
 
THE ROCK vs. THE PSAC EAST
Dating back to the 2011-12 season when the PSAC began counting crossover games as division contests, Slippery Rock has compiled a record of 51-31 (.622) overall against Eastern Division teams. SRU possess a 22-13 (.629) record in crossover games under head coach Ian Grady.
 
Slippery Rock holds a 30-12 (.714) record when hosting PSAC East teams at Morrow Field House under the current conference scheduling structure.
 
So far this season, Slippery Rock is 1-0 against the PSAC East with a win over Mansfield. Following Tuesday, the rest of The Rock's crossover schedule features away games against Shippensburg and Lock Haven and home contests versus Bloomsburg and East Stroudsburg. 
 
SRU has concluded the crossover portion of its PSAC schedule with a .500 or better winning percentage against its Eastern Division counterparts in 11 of the last 13 years.

PERFECT AT HOME
SRU is a perfect 6-0 at home this season. A victory over Shepherd would put this year's team in sole possession of the ninth longest stretch of consecutive home victories to start a year inside the program since Morrow Field House opened in 1959.
 
Consecutive Home Wins to Start Year
1. 1989-90: 12
t2. 2022-23: 10
t2. 1990-91: 10
t2. 1982-83: 10
t5. 2014-15: 9
t5. 1981-82: 9
t5. 1972-73: 9
8. 1987-88: 8
t9. Six Times: 6

EVERYONE CAN HURT YOU
Four of Slippery Rock's starters, and one reserve, finished in double figures as part of SRU's victory over Lake Erie, already marking the eighth time this season in which Th Rock has had at least four athletes score 10 or more points in a game. In comparison, Slippery Rock had 13 games with four or more double-digit scorers through the entirety of the 2024-25 season (29 games).
 
On the year, Slippery Rock has four qualified athletes currently averaging at least 10 points per game in Dame Givner (14.8), Ike Herster (13.4), Isaac James (13.1) and Elijah Hill (11.7). Brady Mayo (9.8) is on the cusp of joining the group, while Maceo Austin also scores 15.0 ppg, but has been limited to just one game played so far this year.
 
For the first time this year, James was The Rock's leading scorer with 15 points against Lake Erie. Through the first nine games of the 2025-26 season, Slippery Rock has had six different athletes hold high-scorer honors.

DEFYING THE ODDS
Slippery Rock has earned its 8-1 start to the season despite committing more turnovers than its opponents on seven occasions this year and ranking 281st out of 289 Division II teams in terms of turnovers per game (17.9). A year ago, SRU was 3-10 in games it lost the turnover battle in, compared to a 6-1 mark in such games this year.  

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE ONES
Slippery Rock has done exceedingly well for most of the season in getting to the foul line and converting its free throws at a solid rate once there. Not only does The Rock rank 17th in the nation in free throw attempts per game (26.8), they also are 15th in free throws made per game (19.8) all the while ranking third in the PSAC in free throw percentage (.739).
 
Five of the seven Rock athletes to attempt at least 20 foul shots this season are shooting at least 71 percent from the line. Ike Herster has made a team-high 34 foul shots (.829), while Brady Mayo is 13th in Division II in accuracy at 93.5 percent (29-31). SRU's other top performers at the foul line include RJ Sledge (.846 / 22-26), Dame Givner (.811 / 30-37) and Sheick Samoura (.714 / 15-21).
 
MAKING OPPONENTS WORK FOR 3'S
Few teams have done as well defending 3-pointers as The Rock has through the early stages of the season. Entering Tuesday, Slippery Rock ranks fourth in the country, and tops in the PSAC, in 3-point field goal percentage defense. Opponents are shooting a mere 25.4 percent from deep against SRU this season.
 
Overall, Slippery Rock ranks 32nd in Division II in total field goal percentage defense (.401). Only two opponents have shot above 42 percent from the field against SRU this season: Fairmont State (.492) and Lake Erie (.441).

CRASHING THE GLASS
As is typically the case with Slippery Rock teams, rebounding continues to be a strength for SRU. The Rock ranks 21st in D2 total rebounding (42.67), 22nd in offensive rebounding (14.78) and 29th in rebounding margin (+8.0).
 
Slippery Rock has been out-rebounded just twice this season while holding a double-digit rebounding margin on five occasions.

GET A LEAD, KEEP A LEAD
Slippery Rock is a perfect 8-0 in 2025-26 when holding a lead or being tied at halftime.

MEETING OF ROOKIE SCORERS
Tuesday's game will feature two of the top freshman scorers in the PSAC this season in The Rock's Dame Givner and Shepherd's Colby White. Givner is the second-leading rookie scorer in the PSAC at 14.8 points per game while White ranks third with 14.3 ppg. Another Rock rookie – redshirt freshman Elijah Hill ranks just outside of the top five in sixth place with 11.7 ppg.
 
Top Rookie Scorers in the PSAC
1. Rowan Carmichael (Edinboro): 18.6
2. Dame Givner (Slippery Rock): 14.8
3. Colby White (Shepherd): 14.3
4. Adrian Brito (East Stroudsburg): 14.1
5. Luke Kennevan (Lock Haven): 12.4
6. Elijah Hill (Slippery Rock): 11.7
7. Keni Williams (East Stroudsburg): 10.9
8. Ries Naugle (Bloomsburg): 10.7
9. Rashaad Williams (Seton Hill): 10.4
10. Brady Mayo (Slippery Rock): 9.8

DISTRIBUTING AT A HIGH RATE
In addition to being SRU's leading scorer, Dame Givner also averages 3.4 assists per game including 22 in the last four games. The last Rock athlete to have 22 assists in a four-game stretch was Amante Britt in 2021-22.

JAMES GETTING IT DONE AT BOTH ENDS
Not only did Isaac James score a team-high 15 points in SRU's win against Lake Erie, he also pocketed a game-best five steals. James is now averaging 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 55.7 percent from the floor. No other athlete in the PSAC averages at least 13 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists per game while shooting above 55 percent.
 
OFFENSIVE GLASS CLEANER
Elijah Hill grabbed a team season-high six offensive rebounds against Lake Erie as part of an overall 13-point, eight-rebound, two-steal, one-block effort. Hill, who ranks fourth in the PSAC in offensive rebounding (3.22 orpg), has now grabbed 16 offensive boards in the last four games.
  
HERSTER CONTINUES CLIMB TOWARDS 1,000
With a minimum of 19 games left in the season, Ike Herster is a virtual lock barring unforeseen circumstances to become the 26th athlete in program history to score 1,000 points in a Rock uniform.
 
Herster, who is averaging 13.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game this season, is 56 points away from reaching the scoring milestone. At his rate, Herster would hit 1,000 points Jan. 3 against East Stroudsburg.
 
While Herster is nearing SRU 1,000-point milestone, he's already scored 1,328 points in the totality of his college career between his time at SRU and Gannon. His 944 points in a Rock uniform also represent the seventh highest point total scored by a transfer to come to SRU in program history.
 
Herster, who also ranks 10th in program history in career 3-pointers, is the only Rock athlete to score at least 10 points in every game this season.

SHEICK'S BLOCK PARTY
Despite going without a block for the first time this year in the Lake Erie win, Sheick Samoura is still third in the PSAC lead in total blocks with 15 while ranking second in blocks per game (1.7). Far from a one-dimensional player, Samoura did score a season-high 13 point vs. Lake Erie to go with six rebounds.
 
MORROW MAGIC
Since 2008-09, SRU is an outstanding 182-58 (.758) at Morrow Field House. SRU has now recorded a winning record at Morrow Field House for 14 of the last 15 seasons. Across the PSAC, SRU ranks fourth in home winning percentage and fourth in total home wins since 2008-09.
 
BORN TO RUN
As part of its victory over Lake Erie, Slippery Rock ran its way to 25 fastbreak points – SRU's second highest such total this year and just shy of its season-high of 27 fastbreak points in a season-opening win over West Virginia Wesleyan. To date, Slippery Rock has averaged 16.6 fastbreak points per game, which ranks fifth in the PSAC and is right on par with its 2024-25 16.5 average.

ROUNDING OUT THE ROTATION
• Kerwin Prince continues to increase his playing time as he fully works his way back from an injury that sidelined him for nearly all of 2024-25 at New Orleans. In three games with SRU, Prince has scored 7.7 points on 52.6 percent shooting and pulled in 5.3 rebounds.
 
• Reserve forwards Mack Staunch and Enire Bowens combine to average 4.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
 
• Rounding out SRU's top contributors are Maceo Austin (15.0 ppg, 5.0 spg, 4.0 apg) and Braylon Littlejohn (8.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.0 spg).
 
EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES
The Rock's early success in 2025-26 can be largely attributed to a complete group effort in which every member of the rotation has played their roles perfectly leading to the impressive 8-1 start. All eight of the SRU athletes to have played at least nine games this season, hold strong +/-, both on the aggregate and average.
 
SRU +/- Leaders (Min. 5 games played)
Total (per game)
Isaac James: +84 (+9.3)
Ike Herster: +80 (+8.9)
Sheick Samoura: +80 (+8.9)
Elijah Hill: +67 (+7.4)
Brady Mayo: +59 (+6.6)
Dame Givner: +51 (+5.7)
RJ Sledge: +18 (+2.0)
Mack Staunch: +6 (+0.7)

PLAYING IN FRONT
In its eight wins this season, SRU has led for an average of 33:31 minutes per game. SRU has trailed for less than five minutes in five of its nine games this season overall while its season-high lead time was 38:51 at Wheeling. The Rock's lone loss to date saw Fairmont State lead for 29:44.

TUESDAY'S GONE
While not an overly common occurrence, when SRU does play on Tuesday's it typically wins. SRU is a near perfect 10-1 when playing games on Tuesday under head coach Ian Grady. The Shepherd game is the final of three Tuesday's encounters this year for SRU, which has already previously beat Glenville State (92-81) and Lake Erie (74-73).

CONVINCING WINS
Of Slippery Rock's eight wins this season, five have come by double digits. The Rock's average margin of victory in 2025-26 is 12.5 points. 
 
Margin of Victory
West Virginia Wesleyan (114-76): 38
D'Youville (85-68): 17
Lincoln (78-66): 12
Wheeling (82-71): 11
Glenville State (92-81): 11
Mansfield (85-78): 7
Davis & Elkins (71-68): 3
Lake Erie (74-73): 1
 
SINGLE-GAME FRESHMEN SCORING AT SRU
SRU's talented freshmen class have been scoring at a rate that's been virtually unheard of for rookies at The Rock over the last quarter century.
 
This year's roster has accounted for five of the 14 20-point games scored by a freshman at The Rock since the 2001-02 season (the furthest back game-by-game statistics are available)
 
Dame Givner has reached the 20-point threshold three times, with Elijah Hill and RJ Sledge notching one each. The most points scored by a freshman at The Rock since 2001-02 was Jamar Scales' 34 against Cal. in 2005-06.
 
Only two other freshmen in the PSAC have scored more points in a game this year than Sledge's 26 against Glenville State: Edinboro's Rowan Carmichael (31 vs. Point Park) and Shepherd's Colby White (31 vs. Frostburg State).

HOW THE ROCK COMPARES (PSAC TEAM RANKINGS)
• Scoring: 8th (85.6)
• Points Allowed Per Game: 9th (74.9)
• Scoring Margin: 8th (+10.7)
• Field Goal %: 7th (.485)
• Opponent Field Goal %: 2nd (.401)
• 3pt-Field Goal %: 9th (.344)
• Opponent 3pt-Field Goal %: 1st (.254)
• 3pt Made Per Game: 15th (6.2)
• Free Throw %: 3rd (.739)
• Free Throws Made Per Game: 3rd (19.8)
• Rebounds Per Game: 3rd (42.7)
• Rebounding Margin: 3rd (+8.0)
• Turnovers Per Game: 17th (17.9)
• Opponent Turnovers Per Game: 10th (14.6)
• Turnover Margin: 16th (-3.3)
• Steals Per Game: 13th (7.3)
• Blocks Per Game: 11th (2.9)

ROCK AMONG PSAC'S BEST (INDIVIDUAL LEADERS)
Brady Mayo
• FT %: (1st / .935)
 
Sheick Samoura
• Blocks Per Game: (2nd / 1.7)
• Total Blocks: (3rd / 19)
 
Isaac James
• Total Rebounding: (9th / 7.4)
• FG %: (8th / .557)
• Offensive Rebounding: (14th / 2.3)
• Assist-Turnover Ratio: (20th / 1.2)
• Assists: (21st / 3.1)
 
RJ Sledge
• FT %: (5th / .846)
 
Elijah Hill
• Offensive Rebounding: (4th / 3.2)
• Total Rebounding: (14th / 6.8)
 
Ike Herster
• FT %: (6th / .829)
 
Dame Givner
• FT %: (10th / .811)
• Assists: (18th / 3.4)
• Scoring: (21st / 14.8)
• Assist-Turnover Ratio: (24th / 1.0)
 
Mack Staunch
• Offensive Rebounding: (20th / 1.7)

RECORD WATCH
Made 3-Pointers (6-10)
6-Jared Armstrong (50 Games, 2018-20): 124
7-Dan Heiman (69 Games, 1991-94): 115
8-Maurice Douglas (52 Games, 2008-10): 114
9-Amante Britt (115 Games, 2018-23): 112
10-Ike Herster (67 Games, 2023-Active): 110
 
Steals (14-19)
14-Dave Johnson (77 Games, 2001-04): 102
t15-Glenn Reepmeyer (104 Games, 2002-07): 98
t15-Lashon Lindsey (116 Games, 1994-97): 98
17-Maceo Austin (47 Games, 2023-Active): 94
18-Mark Metzka (100 Games, 1991-95): 91
19-Dave Freeman (103 Games, 1998-00, 01-03): 90
 
Points By a Transfer at SRU (6-14)
6-Tabari Perry (Cecil / 2014-14): 956
7-Ike Herster (Gannon / 2023-Active): 944
8-Paul Gilbert (Alvernia / 1994-97): 888
9-Jabril Bailey (Campbell / 2009-11): 878
10-Louie Moore (Eastern Kentucky / 1997-00): 863
11-Doug Zimmerman (Penn State Behrend / 1970-72): 860
12-Rob Wilson (Ohio Valley Business College / 1989-91): 807
13-James Richardson (Lenoir CC / 1998-99): 797
14-Maceo Austin (Duquesne / 2023-Active): 791
 
Blocks (14-16)
14-Dan Pratt (49 Games, 1992-94): 61
15-Troy Miller (77 Games, 1991-94): 59
t16-Jade Burka (104 Games, 2007-11): 57
t16-Bill Johnson (77 Games, 1987-90): 57
t16-Sheick Samoura (62 Games, 2023-Active): 57
 
NEXT FIVE GAMES
Dec. 20 (3 p.m.) at Shippensburg
Dec. 21 (3 p.m.) at Lock Haven
Jan. 2 (5 p.m.) vs. Bloomsburg
Jan. 3 (3 p.m.) vs. East Stroudsburg
Jan. 7 (7:30 p.m.) at Clarion
 
SHEPHERD PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• Overall Record: 4-4
• PSAC Record: 0-1
• PSAC East Standings: t-5th
• Home Record: 1-2
• Away Record: 1-2
• Neutral Site Record: 1-0
• Streak: W1
• Last 5 Games: 1-4
• Head Coach: Justin Namolik | 17th season (241-233)

SCOUTING SHEPHERD
• Shepherd comes to Morrow Field House on the heels of snapping a four-game losing streak via a three-point overtime victory (66-63) against Seton Hill in what was a non-conference game between the two PSAC teams.
 
• The 4-4 Rams enter Tuesday having scored 70.1 points per game while allowing opponents to score 74.5 a contest.
 
• Shepherd's strength comes from its defense where it has kept five of its eight opponents under 70 points with the outliers coming from its losses to Frostburg State (105), Gannon (91) and West Liberty (89).
 
• While they only attempt 20 foul shots per game (13th in the PSAC), the Rams tend to convert their attempts from the charity stripe to the tune of a 73.5 percent, which ranks fifth inside the PSAC.
 
•Shepherd is led by Marcus Banks. The PSAC's fourth leading scorer at 19.0 points per game, Banks does the overwhelming majority of his scoring inside as he's only made three 3-pointers this season on 19 attempts compared to a 2-point .431 field goal percentage (37-86).
 
• Banks, who averages 6.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game, also does a great job at getting to the foul line where he shoots 10.6 free throws attempts per game at an 81.2 percent rate.
 
• Rounding out Shepherd's top scorers are Elwyne Wordlaw (14.6 ppg) and Colby White (12.8 ppg). Fabor Okigweh, ranks third in the PSAC in rebounding with 8.5 rpg.

THE ROAD AHEAD
SRU hits the road for a pair of back-to-back PSAC crossover games Saturday at Shippensburg and Sunday against Lock Haven before breaking for 11 days. Slippery Rock then returns home to host Bloomsburg 5 p.m. Jan. 2 followed by a 5 p.m. Jan. 3 showdown with East Stroudsburg.





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