SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team takes its six-game winning streak east this weekend for back-to-back Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference road games.
 
THE SCHEDULE + COVERAGE
Opening tip for both games this weekend is set for 3 p.m. Live video and in-game statistics are being generously provided free of charge by each host institution at the below links.
 
GAME 11 DETAILS
Opponent: Shippensburg University
Date: Saturday – 3 p.m.
Location: Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
Venue: Heiges Field House
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter/X (@Rock_Athletics)
 
Tickets
• All ticket purchases at Shippensburg are cash ONLY.
Adults: $10
Senior Citizens (60+): $5
Students (Non-SU students of school Age): $5
Children 5 and Under: Free
 
Series History
Overall: Raiders lead 33-29
Current Streak: SRU W1
At Shippensburg: Raiders lead 17-12
First Meeting: Feb. 6, 1942 (SRU won 37-33)
Last Meeting: Dec. 19, 2023 (SRU won 93-77)
Most Points, SRU: 119 - March 16, 1991
Most Points, SU: 105 - Jan. 28, 1995
Largest Victory, SRU: 35 (88-53), Jan. 31, 1998
Largest Victory, SU: 43 (77-34), Feb. 18, 2006)
SRU coach Ian Grady vs. Shippensburg: 1-2
SU coach Chris Fite vs. SRU: 4-4
 
Shippensburg has won four its last five games against The Rock dating back to 2016 to take a 33-29 lead in the all-time series.
 
The Rock and Raiders last met Dec. 19, 2023 at Morrow Field House in what was a 93-77 Slippery Rock victory. Ike Herster scored 20 points in the win while Lashon Lindsey went for a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double with Maceo Austin adding 16 points. One of four current Shippensburg athletes to have played in the game, Markus Frank had 22 points in the loss.
 
GAME 12 DETAILS
Opponent: Lock Haven
Date: Sunday – 3 p.m.
Location: Lock Haven, Pennsylvania
Venue: Thomas Fieldhouse
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter/X (@Rock_Athletics)
 
Tickets
Adults, Seniors & Students: $10
Children under 5: FREE
Veterans & Active Military: FREE with ID
 
Series History
Overall: SRU lead 77-40
Current Streak: LH W2
At Lock Haven: SRU lead 33-22
First Meeting: Feb. 15, 1958 (LH won 86-81, OT)
Last Meeting: Dec. 30, 2023 (LH won 73-66)
Most Points, SRU: 115 – Feb. 12, 1972
Most Points, LH: 110 - March 4, 1989
Largest Victory, SRU: 41 (104-63), Feb. 14, 1964
Largest Victory, LH: 24 (80-56), Jan. 16, 1980)
SRU coach Ian Grady vs. Lock Haven: 3-2
LH coach Mike Nestor vs. SRU: 3-8
 
While The Rock owns a 77-40 overall record in a series that traces back 1958, the Bald Eagles have won each of the last two contests with an 80-75 double overtime win Jan. 23, 2023 and a 73-66 victory Dec. 30, 2023 at Lock Haven.

RECORDS & LAST TIME OUT
• Slippery Rock sets out on its weekend road trip fresh off a 70-61 victory over Shepherd on Tuesday that improved The Rock's record to 9-1 overall and a perfect 2-0 inside the PSAC.  
 
• Shippensburg welcomes The Rock following a 95-76 road loss Tuesday at California (Pa.) that bumped the Raiders' record down to 5-3 overall and 0-1 in league matchups.
 
• Lock Haven, which most recently lost on the road Wednesday at Seton Hill, 92-58, starts the weekend at 4-5 overall and 0-2 in the PSAC. The Bald Eagles host California Saturday prior to its meeting with SRU.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• Overall Record: 9-1
• NABC Top-25: RV
• PSAC Record: 2-0
• PSAC West Standings: t-1st
• Home Record:7-0
• Away Record: 2-1
• Streak: W5
• Last 5 Games: 5-0
• Head Coach: Ian Grady | Eighth season (108-77)

SHEPHERD RECAP
The Slippery Rock men's basketball team pushed its winning streak to six games with a 70-61 PSAC victory over Shepherd Tuesday at Morrow Field House.
 
Shepherd logged the game's first points with a Colton Hartman basket a minute into regulation before James made a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to give SRU a lead it would never relinquish. All told, Slippery Rock led the Rams for 38:43.
 
Ike Herster paced four Rock athletes in double figures with 15 points to go with a one steal and a career-high tying four assists.
 
Dame Givner and Isaac James added 14 points apiece. Givner also grabbed six rebounds and made one steal, while James grabbed four rebounds to go with a 6-of-10 shooting performance that included a 2-for-2 effort from 3-point territory.
 
RJ Sledge came off the bench to register 12 points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal. Sledge shot 5-for-8 from the field overall and 2-of-3 from 3-point range.
 
Collectively, The Rock shot 47.3 percent (26-of-55) from the field overall and 44.4 percent (8-of-18) in addition to committing a season-low 10 turnovers.

ROCK RECEIVING VOTES IN NABC POLL
Shortly prior to the start of Tuesday's win over Shepherd, the National Association of Basketball Coaches released its weekly top-25 poll and The Rock was one of 15 teams to be just outside the national rankings in the receiving votes section.
 
Slippery Rock is one of five teams inside the Atlantic Region (PSAC + MEC + CIAA) to be featured in the poll. This week marks the first time SRU has been receiving votes in the NABC Top-25 since the 2012-13 season. The full poll can be viewed HERE.
 
The Atlantic Region in the Top-25
No. 8: Fairmont State (7-1)
No. 12: West Liberty (6-1)
No. 15: Gannon (7-1)
RV (3): IUP (6-1)
RV (2): The Rock (9-1)

A HISTORIC START CONTINUES
The Rock's 9-1 record is tied for the third-best 10-game start to a season in program history.
 
Only three of the seven previous times in which Slippery Rock started its season with at least nine wins in 10 games occurred during the program's NCAA Division II era: 2009-10 (10-0), 2022-23 (9-1) and 1990-91 (9-1). Each of those three impressive starts included victories against at least one team that did not compete in DII, while this year's team has played all 10 games against opponents at its level.
 
Two wins this weekend would further entrench this team among the best to start a season in program history as only four other SRU teams have gone 10-1 in its first 11 games with just three improving to 11-1 in its opening 12 games.
 
Best 11-Game Starts At SRU
t1. 2009-10 (10-1)
t1. 1952-53 (10-1)
t1. 1924-25 (10-1)
t1. 1923-24 (10-1)
t5. 9-2 (14 times)
 
Best 12-Game Starts At SRU
t1. 2009-10 (11-1)
t1. 1924-25 (11-1)
t1. 1923-24 (11-1)
t4. 10-2 (9 times)

STREAKING
The Rock's current six-game winnings streak is the second longest active stretch of consecutive wins inside the PSAC behind only West Chester's current seven-game run, and the third best in the Atlantic Region overall.
 
Atlantic Region Active Winning Streaks (Next Opponent)
1. Virginia Union: 10 (Johnson C. Smith)
2. West Chester: 7 (Gannon)
3. Slippery Rock: 6 (Shippensburg)
t4. West Liberty: 5 (Angelo State)
t4. Millersville: 5 (Bowie State)
t4. Gannon: 5 (West Chester)
 
SECOND MOST WINS IN REGION
Slippery Rock heads into the weekend in possession of the second highest win total in the Atlantic Region behind only Virginia Union's 10 - three of which have come against teams competing outside NCAA Division II.
 
Most Wins in Atlantic Region
1. Virginia Union (10)
2. Slippery Rock (9)
t3. Shaw (8)
t3. Fairmont State (8)
t3. Gannon (8)

STAYING HOT IN THE PSAC
Two wins this weekend would give The Rock a 3-0 record to start the PSAC portion of its schedule for just the fourth time in the last 25 years and first time since 2021-22.

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 52-31 (.627) overall against Eastern Division teams. SRU possess a 23-13 (.639) record in crossover games under head coach Ian Grady.
 
So far this season, Slippery Rock is 2-0 against the PSAC East with wins over Mansfield and Shepherd. Following this weekend, the rest of The Rock's crossover schedule features 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.
 
GET A LEAD, KEEP A LEAD
Slippery Rock is a perfect 9-0 in 2025-26 when holding a lead or being tied at halftime.

WE > ME
While Slippery Rock only has one athlete ranked among the PSAC's top 25 scorers in Dame Givner (22nd / 14.7 ppg), it is one of just three programs in the 17-team conference, along with Seton Hill and East Stroudsburg, with at least five athletes in its rotation that averages at least 9.5 points per game. SRU has featured six different athletes as its leading scorer in a game this season.
 
It's probably not a coincidence that the team pack-like scoring mentality has led to The Rock, ESU and SHU combining for a 24-4 overall record.
 
NO EASY BUCKETS
Converting shots against The Rock has become an increasingly hard proposition this season. Entering the weekend, Slippery Rock ranks fifth in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.252) and 33rd in overall field goal percentage defense (.401). SRU ranks first in the PSAC in both statistical categories in addition to the lofty national rankings.
 
Only two opponents have shot over 44 percent from the field against The Rock in 2025-26 – Lake Erie (.441) and nationally ranked Fairmont State (.492). Opponents have had an even harder time from beyond the arc as only two teams have even shot over 30 percent from distance against SRU in Fairmont State (.318 / 7-22) and Glenville State (.314 / 11-35).
 
PERFECT 10s
A highlight of the Shepherd win came from the foul line where Slippery Rock shot an immaculate 10-for-10 at the foul line. The performance at the foul line is the first time a Slippery Rock team has produced a perfect free throw percentage in a single-game with a minimum of 10 attempts over the last 25 years (as far back as documented single-game SRU statistics are available).
 
SNIPERS AT THE FOUL LINE
As The Rock's perfect shooting night from the foul line indicated, 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 37th in the nation in free throw attempts per game (25.1), they also are 23rd in free throws made per game (18.8) all the while ranking second in the PSAC in free throw percentage (.749).
 
Five of the seven Rock athletes to attempt a minimum of 20 foul shots this season are shooting at least 71 percent from the line. Ike Herster has made a team-high 38 foul shots (.844), while Brady Mayo is ninth in Division II in accuracy at 93.9 percent (31-33). 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).

THE ROCK ROTATION
• Rookie guard Dame Givner has more than lived up to the hype of being a former three-star prospect. A true playmaker, Givner leads SRU in both scoring (14.7 ppg) and assists (3.3 apg) while also ranking second on the team in total steals (11) to go with 4.1 rebounds per game.  

• Givner is one of only five freshmen in the 41-team Atlantic Region to average at least 10.0 points per game and also distribute more than 3.0 assists per game.
 
• Senior guard Ike Herster is making the most of his final collegiate season. A double-digit scorer in all 10 games this year, Herster heads to Shippensburg averaging 13.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.
 
• Herster, who already ranks 10th in program history for made 3-pointers in a career (111), is now 41 points away from becoming the 26th athlete to score 1,000 points in a Rock uniform. He's already amassed 1,343 points over the totality of his collegiate career between his time at SRU and Gannon.
 
• Much like Herster, senior forward Isaac James has been a model of consistency for The Rock so far this season. He has scored at least 11 points in nine of his 10 games played while pulling down at least five rebounds on eight occasions. In addition to being a 13.2 points per game scorer on 56.1 percent shooting, James is also the PSAC's 10th-leading rebounder at 7.1 rpg.
 
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.
 
• Redshirt freshman Elijah Hill will look to return to form after being held under 10 points and five rebounds against Shepherd for just the first time in the last five games. A starter in all 10 games on the year, Hill not only scores 10.7 points per game on efficient shooting percentages of .672 (41-of-61) overall and .750 (9-of-12) from 3-point range, he also grabs 6.5 rebounds a contest.
 
• Guard Brady Mayo joins Givner and Hill as Rock freshmen to have started all 10 games in 2025-26. Mayo scores 9.5 points per game in addition to chipping in 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals a night. He has distributed six assists over the last two games.
 
• Kerwin Prince has been The Rock's leading rebounder in each of his last two games played. Over his four appearances this season the senior forward he has gone for 6.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while shooting 52.4 percent from the field.
 
• RJ Sledge busted out of a mini scoring slump with 12 points against Shepherd on 5-of-8 shooting including a pair of 3-pointers. The reserve freshman guard has appeared in all 10 games on the way to posting per game averages of 7.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and a team-best 1.2 steals.
 
• Sheick Samoura returned to his shot-blocking ways against Shepherd with his 16th rejection of the year. Samoura now ranks second in the PSAC in total blocks and third in blocks per game (1.6). He also averages 5.5 points and 3.9 rebounds a game.
 
• Samoura has 58 blocks over his career, one shy of moving into a tie with Troy Miller (1991-94) for 15th place on SRU's career rejection ledger.
 
• Rounding out The Rock's rotation are reserve forwards Mack Staunch (2.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and Enire Bowens (1.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg).
 
PLAYING IN FRONT
Slippery Rock has led for over 32 minutes in seven of its 10 games this season.
 
YOU HAVE TO LEAVE HOME EVENTUALLY
Seven of The Rock's first 10 games in 2025-26 have been played at Morrow Field House, all of which have been wins. SRU has left the cozy confines of Butler County just three times this season in a conference mandated road game at Mansfield (W, 85-78) as well as two non-conference tilts at Fairmont State (L, 93-89) and D'Youville (W, 85-68).
 
Saturday's game at Shippensburg starts a stretch of the schedule in which SRU will play five of the following eight matchups away from home.

HOW THE ROCK COMPARES (PSAC TEAM RANKINGS)
• Scoring: 9th (84.0)
• Points Allowed Per Game: 6th (73.5)
• Scoring Margin: 7th (+10.5)
• Field Goal %: 7th (.484)
• Opponent Field Goal %: 1st (.401)
• 3pt-Field Goal %: 5th (.354)
• Opponent 3pt-Field Goal %: 1st (.252)
• 3pt Made Per Game: 13th (6.4)
• Free Throw %: 2nd (.749)
• Free Throws Made Per Game: 3rd (18.8)
• Rebounds Per Game: 5th (41.8)
• Rebounding Margin: 5th (+7.3)
• Turnovers Per Game: 14th (17.1)
• Opponent Turnovers Per Game: 9th (14.0)
• Turnover Margin: 14th (-3.1)
• Steals Per Game: 12th (7.1)
• Blocks Per Game: 12th (2.9)
 
ROCK AMONG PSAC'S BEST (INDIVIDUAL LEADERS)
Brady Mayo
• FT %: (1st / .939)
 
Sheick Samoura
• Total Blocks: (2nd / 16)
• Blocks Per Game: (3rd / 1.6)
 
Ike Herster
• FT %: (3rd / .844)
 
Elijah Hill
• Offensive Rebounding: (6th / 3.0)
• Total Rebounding: (15th / 6.5)
 
Isaac James
• FG %: (7th / .561)
• Total Rebounding: (10th / 7.1)
• Offensive Rebounding: (14th / 2.3)
• Assists: (25th / 2.8)
 
Dame Givner
• FT %: (10th / .811)
• Assists: (17th / 3.3)
• Scoring: (22nd / 14.7)
• Assist-Turnover Ratio: (24th / 1.0)
• FG %: (25th / .433)
 
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): 111
 
Points By a Transfer at SRU (5-14)
5-Troy Miller (Cleveland State / 1991-94): 1,139
6-Ike Herster (Gannon / 2023-Active): 959
7-Tabari Perry (Cecil / 2014-14): 956
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 (12-16)
12-James Richardson (52 Games, 1998-00): 69
13-Jamal Gatali (54 Games, 2014-16): 62
14-Dan Pratt (49 Games, 1992-94): 61
15-Troy Miller (77 Games, 1991-94): 59
16-Sheick Samoura (63 Games, 2023-Active): 58
 
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
 
NEXT FIVE GAMES
Jan. 2 (5 p.m.) vs. Bloomsburg
Jan. 3 (3 p.m.) vs. East Stroudsburg
Jan. 7 (7:30 p.m.) at Clarion
Jan. 10 (3 p.m.) at Pitt-Johnstown
Jan. 14 (7:30 p.m.) vs. Indiana (Pa.)
 
SHIPPENSBURG PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• Overall Record: 5-3
• PSAC Record: 0-1
• PSAC East Standings: t-4th
• Home Record: 3-0
• Away Record: 1-3
• Neutral Site Record: 1-0
• Streak: L1
• Last 5 Games: 3-2
• Head Coach: Chris Fite | 13th season (198-134)
 
SHIPPENSBURG LEADERS (Per Game)
SCORING: Markus Frank (21.9), Michael Dickson (16.3)
FG%: Frank (.540 / 67-124)
3PT%: Jaydon Smith (.400 / 14-35)
ASSISTS: Dickson (5.4)
REBOUNDS: Dickson (5.9)
STEALS: Dickson (2.0)
BLOCKS: Denzel Figueroa (1.3)

HOW SHIPPENSBURG COMPARES (PSAC TEAM RANKINGS)
• Scoring: 8th (84.5)
• Points Allowed Per Game: 16th (83.6)
• Scoring Margin: 12th (+0.9)
• Field Goal %: 9th (.470)
• Opponent Field Goal %: 16th (.480)
• 3pt-Field Goal %: 5th (.354)
• Opponent 3pt-Field Goal %: 16th (.358)
• 3pt Made Per Game: 9th (7.1)
• Free Throw %: 6th (.714)
• Free Throws Made Per Game: 8th (15.6)
• Rebounds Per Game: 11th (36.8)
• Rebounding Margin: 14th (-0.6)
• Turnovers Per Game: 3rd (12.0)
• Opponent Turnovers Per Game: 12th (13.8)
• Turnover Margin: 7th (+1.8)
• Steals Per Game: 9th (8.3)
• Blocks Per Game: 15th (2.1)

LOCK HAVEN PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• Overall Record: 4-5
• PSAC Record: 0-2
• PSAC East Standings: t-6th
• Home Record: 3-1
• Away Record: 0-3
• Neutral Site Record: 1-1
• Streak: L3
• Last 5 Games: 2-3
• Head Coach: Mike Nestor | 14th season (156-202)

LOCK HAVEN LEADERS (Per Game)
SCORING: Dyllon Scott (11.8), Luke Kennevan (11.1)
FG%: Kennevan (.487 / 38-78)
3PT%: Scott (.382 / 13-34)
ASSISTS: Scott (3.1)
REBOUNDS: Blake Deegan (7.1)
STEALS: Keith Warren (1.2)
BLOCKS: Deegan (1.2)
 
HOW LOCK HAVEN COMPARES (PSAC TEAM RANKINGS)
• Scoring: 15th (73.3)
• Points Allowed Per Game: 8th (74.4)
• Scoring Margin: 13th (-1.1)
• Field Goal %: 16th (.405)
• Opponent Field Goal %: 4th (.421)
• 3pt-Field Goal %: 16th (.292)
• Opponent 3pt-Field Goal %: 10th (.314)
• 3pt Made Per Game: 7th (8.2)
• Free Throw %: 11th (.680)
• Free Throws Made Per Game: 16th (11.3)
• Rebounds Per Game: 3rd (42.2)
• Rebounding Margin: 7th (+3.3)
• Turnovers Per Game: 7th (13.0)
• Opponent Turnovers Per Game: 14th (12.0)
• Turnover Margin: 12th (-1.0)
• Steals Per Game: 14th (6.6)
• Blocks Per Game: 7th (3.7)
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock breaks for 11 days before returning to competition for two final PSAC crossover games at Morrow Field House 5 p.m. Jan. 2 against Bloomsburg and 3 p.m. Jan. 3 versus East Stroudsburg.

 



To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on 'X' (formerly Twitter, @Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).