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. Lincoln
The Rock (5-1)	Lions (1-3)
Roster	Roster
Schedule	Schedule
Statistics	Statistics
Coach Ian Grady	Coach Julius Hodge
Program Records	Program Records
PSAC Standings
PSAC Leaders
PSAC Schedule
Morrow Field House
Tickets
Game Notes

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The surging Slippery Rock University men's basketball team opens a busy three games in six days stretch of its 2025-26 schedule when it hosts Lincoln University 6 p.m. Thursday at Morrow Field House before traveling for its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opener 3 p.m. Saturday at Mansfield.
 
GAME 7 DETAILS
Opponent: Lincoln University
Date: Thursday – 6 p.m.
Location: Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
Venue: Morrow Field House
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
Tickets: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter/X (@Rock_Athletics)
 
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 Thursday'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.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Thursday's game will serve as the first meeting between Slippery Rock and Lincoln.
 
GAME 8 DETAILS
Opponent: Mansfield
Date: Saturday – 3 p.m.
Location: Mansfield, Pennsylvania
Venue: Decker Gymnasium
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter/X (@Rock_Athletics)
 
TICKET PRICES
Adults: $5
Children: $3
Students w/ ID: Free
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Video of Saturday's game will be provided free of charge by the Mansfield Athletic Communications & Marketing office at the above link or HERE.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: SRU leads 17-15
Current Streak: SRU W6
At Mansfield: Mansfield leads 9-8
First Meeting: March. 4, 1963 (SRU won 74-73)
Last Meeting: Dec. 17, 2024 (SRU won 105-62)
Most Points, SRU: 105 - Dec. 17, 2024
Most Points, MU: 125 - Jan. 14, 1971
Largest Victory, SRU: 43 (105-62 Dec. 17, 2024)
Largest Victory, MU: 35 (103-68, Feb. 23, 1985)
SRU coach Ian Grady vs. Mansfield: 4-0
MU coach John Szentesy vs. SRU: 0-4
 
Slippery Rock owns a 17-15 record in the series and has won six consecutive games against The Mountaineers, including a 43-point (105-62) triumph a season ago at Morrow Field House.
 
RECORDS
In the midst of one of its best starts to a season in program history, Slippery Rock welcomes Lincoln with a 5-1 overall record while the Lions enter Morrow Field House at 1-2 through the early stages of the year. Mansfield hosts Bryant & Stratton tonight at 0-5 and in search of its first win.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock led for nearly 38 minutes as part of a convincing 85-68 road victory at D'Youville University on Nov. 30. Lincoln last took the court in a 95-52 loss Tuesday at West Chester University.
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• Overall Record: 5-1
• PSAC Record: 0-0
• Home Record: 4-0
• Away Record: 1-1
• Streak: W2
• Last 5 Games: 4-1
• Head Coach: Ian Grady | Eighth season (104-77)

D'YOUVILLE RECAP
Slippery Rock went on the road to grab an 85-68 victory Nov. 30 at D'Youville University.
 
SRU earned its latest victory after playing an efficient game. Not only did SRU commit a season-low 12 turnovers, The Rock also shot 51.5 percent (35-for-68) from the field overall, 41.2 percent (7-for-17) from 3-point range and 80 percent (8-for-10) at the foul line. Slippery Rock has now shot at least 50 percent from the field in four of its six games this year.
 
The Rock also dominated the glass to the tune of a +14 (45-31) rebounding margin with 15 of the rebounds coming on offense, resulting in 20 second chance points: the team's second highest total of the year.
 
Defensively, The Rock limited D'Youville to shooting percentages of 37.1 overall (23-of-62) and 24.1 (7-for-29) from distance. While the Saints attempted 15 more free throws than SRU, they could only convert 60 percent (15-for-25) of their attempts from the foul line.
 
While D'Youville kept the game close for the final five minutes of the first half and the opening six minutes of the second period, Slippery Rock ultimately led for nearly 38 minutes.
 
ROCK APPROACHING RARE AIR
Slippery Rock's great start is fast approaching some of the best in school history. A pair of wins this week over Lincoln and Mansfield would solidify the 2025-26 team among the best in program history in terms of eight-game starts to a year.
 
A win against Lincoln gives The Rock a record of at least 6-1 through seven games for the 22nd time in program history while a sweep of the week would lift SRU to 7-1, marking only the 13th occasion in the Slippery Rock's 115-year history that The Rock have started with at least seven wins in their first eight games.
 
While there's no certainties in life, if this year's team gets to 7-1 a winning record is very likely. Only one of the previous 12 Rock teams to begin the season with at least seven wins in the first eight games ended their respective years with a losing record: the 1993-94 team closed the season 12-13 after starting 7-1.
 
UNFAMILIAR FOES
Thursday's game will be the first meeting in the all-time series between The Rock and Lincoln. In fact, playing current teams from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association all together is somewhat of a rarity for The Rock. In the program's 115-year history (2,420 games), SRU has played current CIAA members just 10 times.

NON-CONFERENCE DOMINANCE
Dating back to the 2008-09 season, SRU has posted a 62-13 record (.827) in non-conference games at Morrow Field House as well as a 106-54 (.663) mark outside of the PSAC overall.

CONVINCING WINS
Of Slippery Rock's five wins this season, four have come by double digits. The Rock's average margin of victory in 2025-26 is 16 points. 
 
Margin of Victory
West Virginia Wesleyan (114-76): 38
Davis & Elkins (71-68): 3
Wheeling (82-71): 11
Glenville State (92-81): 11
D'Youville (85-68): 17
 
BENCH PRODUCTION
SRU's reserves accounted for 25 points against D'Youville. So far this year, The Rock's bench has produced at least 20 points in five of six games. A season ago, SRU had 20 or more bench points just eight times.
 
MIX, MATCH, WIN
Slippery Rock used its third different starting lineup of the season in the D'Youville victory as the combination of Ike Herster, Sheick Samoura, Dame Givner, Elijah Hill and Brady Mayo were the opening five on the court for the first time this season.

NO EASY BASKETS
A staple in all five of The Rock's wins this season has been a defensive effort that have limited opponents shooting. Slippery Rock goes into the Lincoln game ranked 33rd out of 289 Division II in both opponent field goal percentage (.394) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (.272). Opponents have shot over 41 percent from the field against The Rock just once this year when nationally ranked Fairmont State connected on 49.2 percent of its field goal attempts in a victory over The Rock.
 
PRETTY GOOD MARKSMEN TOO
In addition to its strong defensive standard, Slippery Rock is also converting its own attempts at a high rate. Entering Thursday's game, SRU ranks fifth in the 17-team PSAC in field goal percentage (.489) and fourth in 3-point accuracy (.375).
 
SRU has shot at least 50 percent from the field on four occasions this year, including three of the last four games. Slippery Rock has also been particularly accurate from 3-point territory over the last three games, making 43.3 percent (26-for-60) of its shot from distance during the stretch.
 
MAYO HEATING UP
Freshman Brady Mayo heads into the weekend on the heels of back-to-back strong offensive performances in the form of 15 points against Glenville and a season-high 16 points at D'Youville. After making only nine of his first 34 field goal attempts in a Rock uniform, Mayo has also upped his offensive efficiency of late by going a combined 11-for-23 (.478) from the field over the last two games.
 
A starter in all six games so far, Mayo averages 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 assists per game.
 
AUTOMATIC AT THE LINE
Brady Mayo is shooting 95.2 percent (20-for-21) from the foul line. Among all Division II athletes that have attempted at least 20 free throws this season, only 11 are connecting at a higher percentage than Mayo.
 
Collectively, Slippery Rock has done a solid job at the foul line in its first six games. Slippery Rock currently ranks second in the PSAC in free throw percentage (.735) while its 19.8 made free throws per game is the 23rd highest total in the nation.

HILL HONORED
Redshirt freshman Elijah Hill was named the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week. Hill earned the honor after helping to lead Slippery Rock to another perfect record last week. In two games, Hill totaled eight defensive rebounds, three steals and one block while also averaging 11.5 points per game on 66.7 percent shooting from the field offensively.
 
In his first official season of collegiate competition, Hill has started all six games while posting per game averages of 10.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals in addition to shooting 68.6 percent (24-of-35) from the field overall and 75 percent (6-of-8) from 3-point range.
 
GETTING EVERYONE INVOLVED
While Dame Givner opens the weekend as The Rock's leading scorer at 14.0 points per game, he has also shown a knack for getting his teammates going with the latest example being a seven-assist showing in SRU's win at D'Youville. The seven assists are tied for the most by a Rock athlete since Amante Britt dished out eight assists in a home win vs. Seton Hill 110 games ago on Jan. 25, 2022.
 
A starter in all six games to date, Givner has also registered per game averages of 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 0.5 steals in addition to his scoring prowess.

HERSTER CLOSING IN ON 1K
With a minimum of 22 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 13.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game this season, is 97 points away from reaching the scoring milestone. At his current scoring rate, Herster would hit 1,000 points Jan. 2 against East Stroudsburg.
 
While Herster is nearing The Rock's 1,000-point milestone, he's already scored 1,287 points in the totality of his college career between his time here and at Gannon.

JAMES DOES IT ALL
Isaac James has had a great start to his Slippery Rock career as the Salem transfer has averaged 11.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 50.8 percent from the field.
 
James is one of only two athletes in the PSAC to average at least 11.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game and shoot above 50 percent.
 
NO FLY ZONE
Sheick Samoura is second in the PSAC in total blocks with nine and fourth in rejections per game (1.5). Samoura, who already ranks 19th in program history for career blocks, also averages 4.2 rebounds per game this year.

PRINCE MAKES DEBUT
The D'Youville game featured the debut of forward Kerwin Prince. A Division I transfer who projects to be an important piece of SRU's success this season, Prince had a productive 10 minutes of playing time vs. the Saints with 10 points and three rebounds.
 
SUPER SUB
RJ Sledge has been The Rock's first guard off the bench in all six games this season. Sledge has gone for 10.5 points, 2.7 assists and 1.5 steals a night while shooting 45.9 percent overall, 42.9 percent from 3-point range and 83.3 percent at the foul line. He ranks seventh in the PSAC in free throw percentage and 10th in 3-point accuracy.

PLAYING IN FRONT
In its five wins this season, Slippery Rock has led for an average of 31.9 minutes per game. SRU has trailed for less than a minute in three of its six games this season 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.
 
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 5-1 start. All eight of the SRU athletes to have played at least five games this season, hold strong +/-, both on the aggregate and average. +/- is the measure of the point differential for a team when a player is on the court.
 
SRU +/- Leaders (Min. 5 games played)
Total (per game)
Sheick Samoura: +80 (+13.3)
Isaac James: +58 (+9.7)
Elijah Hill: +46 (+7.7)
Ike Herster: +43 (+7.2)
Brady Mayo: +43 (+7.2)
Dame Givner: +34 (+5.7)
RJ Sledge: +24 (+4.0)
Mack Staunch: +13 (+2.2)

SINGLE-GAME FRESHMEN SCORING AT SRU
Slippery Rock'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.
 
Following RJ Sledge's 26-point outburst against Glenville State, this year's roster has now accounted for four of the 13 20-point games scored by a freshman at The Rock since the 2001-02 season (the furthest back game-by-game statistics are available)
 
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).
 
Dame Givner has reached the 20-point threshold twice, with Elijah Hill and Sledge notching one each.
 
Single-Game Scoring by SRU Freshmen (Since 2001-02)
1. Jamar Scales: 34 vs. California (2005-06)
2. Jamar Scales: 28 vs. Kutztown (2005-06)
3. Matt Hale: 27 vs. Malone (2005-06)
4. RJ Sledge: 26 vs. Glenville State (2025-26)
5. Eroll Robinson: 25 vs. Ashland (2005-06)
6. Dame Givner: 24 vs. Wheeling (2025-26)
7. Eroll Robinson: 23 vs. Lincoln Memorial (2005-06)
8. Jamar Scales: 22 vs. Lock Haven (2005-06)
t9. Dame Givner: 21 vs. Fairmont State (2025-26)
t9. Dylan Ahearn: 21 vs. Edinboro (2021-22)
t11. Elijah Hill: 20 vs. WV Wesleyan (2025-26)
t11. Chaq Pratt: 20 vs. Edinboro (2011-12)
t11. Eroll Robinson: 20 vs. Cheyney (2005-06)

STAUNCH ON THE OFFENSIVE GLASS
Reserve forward Mack Staunch has provided The Rock with toughness inside this season, especially on the offensive glass where he has pulled down 13 offensive rebounds in his 60 minutes played on the year.
 
Staunch, who ranks 18th in the PSAC in offensive rebounding, has brought down multiple offensive boards in three of six games this year.
 
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 50-31 (.617) overall against Eastern Division teams. SRU possess a 21-13 (.618) record in crossover games under head coach Ian Grady.
 
Following Saturday's game at Mansfield, Slippery Rock's remaining crossover schedule consists of home games against Shepherd (Dec. 16), Bloomsburg (Jan. 2) and East Stroudsburg (Jan. 3) as well as away tilts at Shippensburg (Dec. 20), Lock Haven (Dec. 21).

YOUTH MOVEMENT
True freshmen Dame Givner and Brady Mayo as well as redshirt freshman Elijah Hill have each started the first six games of the year. Prior to this year, the last time three freshmen (true or redshirt) to start the same game at SRU came when Cory Somerville, Itay Levy and Jade Burka started in an 88-77 loss to East Stroudsburg on Dec. 19, 2007.
 
HERSTER AND AUSTIN CLOSING IN 1,000 POINTS (again)
Already 1,000-point scorers over the entirety of their collegiate careers, Ike Herster and Maceo Austin are both very likely to become the 26th and 27th players in program history to score 1,000 points exclusively at The Rock. Herster has scored 903 points during his SRU tenure with Austin close behind at 791.
 
When the two former high school teammates do both reach 1,000 points in Rock uniforms, they will become the first pair of active 1,000-point scorers at SRU since Mark Metzka and Dennis Greene shared the court as 1,000-point scorers during their senior years in 1994-95.
 
Multiple Active 1,000-Point Scorers at SRU
1989-90: Bill Johnson and Myron Brown
1990-91: Myron Brown, Kevin Jones, C. Russell
1994-95: Dennis Greene and Mark Metzka
 
HOW THE ROCK COMPARES (PSAC TEAM RANKINGS)
• Scoring: 5th (88.8)
• Points Allowed Per Game: 8th (76.2)
• Scoring Margin: 6th (+12.7)
• Field Goal %: 5th (.489)
• Opponent Field Goal %: 2nd (.394)
• 3pt-Field Goal %: 4th (.375)
• Opponent 3pt-Field Goal %: 6th (.272)
• 3pt Made Per Game: 11th (7.0)
• Free Throw %: 2nd (.735)
• Free Throws Made Per Game: 3rd (19.8)
• Rebounds Per Game: 3rd (43.7)
• Rebounding Margin: 4th (+8.7)
• Turnovers Per Game: 16th (17.5)
• Opponent Turnovers Per Game: 11th (14.7)
• Turnover Margin: 15th (-2.8)
• Steals Per Game: 11th (7.2)
• Blocks Per Game: 13th (2.3)
 
ROCK AMONG PSAC'S BEST (INDIVIDUAL LEADERS)
Brady Mayo
• FT %: (1st / .952)
• Steals: (24th / 1.5)
 
Sheick Samoura
• Total Blocks: (2nd / 9)
• Blocks Per Game: (4th / 1.5)
 
Isaac James
• Total Rebounding: (7th / 8.3)
• FG %: (13th / .508)
• Offensive Rebounding: (17th / 2.3)
• Assists: (18th / 3.5)
• Assist-Turnover Ratio: (18th / 1.4)
 
Elijah Hill
• Offensive Rebounding: (7th / 3.0)
• Total Rebounding: (19th / 6.2)
 
RJ Sledge
• FT %: (7th / .833)
• 3PT %: (10th / .429)
• Steals: (24th / 1.5)
 
Ike Herster
• FT %: (8th / .821)
 
Dame Givner
• 3PT %: (18th / .375)
• Scoring: (25th / 14.0)
 
Mack Staunch
• Offensive Rebounding: (18th / 2.2)
 
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 (59 Games, 2023-Active): 104
 
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): 903
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 (16-20)
t16-Jade Burka (104 Games, 2007-11): 57
t16-Bill Johnson (77 Games, 1987-90): 57
18-Jomo Goings (87 Games, 2021-25): 53
19-Sheick Samoura (57 Games, 2023-Active): 51
20-Jonathan McFall (57 Games, 2021-23): 50
 
NEXT FIVE GAMES
Dec. 9 (6 p.m.) vs. Lake Erie
Dec. 16 (5 p.m.) vs. Shepherd
Dec. 20 (3 p.m.) at Shippensburg
Dec. 21 (3 p.m.) at Lock Haven
Jan. 2 (5 p.m.) vs. Bloomsburg
 
LINCOLN PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• Overall Record: 1-3
• CIAA Record: 0-0
• Home Record: 0-0
• Away Record: 0-3
• Neutral Site Record: 1-0
• Streak: L3
• Last 5 Games: N/A
• Head Coach: Julius Hodge | Second season (19-15)
 
SCOUTING LINCOLN
• Lincoln enters Morrow Field House in possession of a 1-3 overall record. Two of Lincoln's four games this year have been two-point decisions that were decided via last-second shots, with a 75-73 win vs. Pitt-Johnstown and a 62-60 loss to Queens (NY) sandwiched around an 82-57 setback to Indiana University (Pa.). Most recently, Lincoln lost 95-52 at West Chester.
 
• Tonight's game closes out a season-opening five-game road trip of Lincoln.
 
• Lincoln is led by second-year head coach Julius Hodge. Prior to embarking on a coaching career, Hodge was a standout athlete at NC State where he was an All-American and 2003-04 ACC Player of the Year prior to being drafted in the first round of the 2005 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets.
 
• The Lions return just two players (reserves Tyleek Fields and Jahmire Brewer) from last year's team which went 18-12 overall and advanced to the semifinals of the CIAA Tournament where their season ended in a 66-57 loss to eventual conference champions Virginia State.
 
• Freshman Julius Olanrewaju, who scored 2,000 points during his prep career, continues to score at a high rate at the onset of his collegiate career. Olanrewaju nearly averages a double-double of 16.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game while shooting 57.5 percent from the field.
 
• Rounding out Lincoln's top offensive contributors is the transfer trio of Bonard Johnson Jr. (Long Beach City College / 13.5 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.3 spg), Draven Pilson (Emory & Henry / 8.8 ppg) and Ginuwine Tropnas (Lake Region State / 6.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.0 spg).
  
• Lincoln will have a distinct height advantage over The Rock as the Lions' roster features six athletes that are listed at 6-foot-5 or larger including seven-footer Kesean Shillingford.
 
• Lincoln has been solid on the glass with 37.8 rebounds per game and a +1.8 rebounding margin. The Lions rank 19th in the nation in offensive rebounding (15.75 orpg) in addition to holding opponents to a .289 shooting percentage from 3-point territory.
 
• Through four games, Lincoln has averaged 61 points per game while surrendering 78. The Lions shoot 44.6 percent inside the 3-point line, but are connecting on just 29.3 percent (22-of-75) of their perimeter attempts. Foul shooting (.556 / 30-54) and turnovers (18.3 tpg) have also been an issue early on.
 
MANSFIELD PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• Overall Record: 0-5
• PSAC Record: 0-0
• Home Record: 0-0
• Away Record: 0-1
• Neutral Site Record: 0-4
• Streak: L5
• Last 5 Games: 0-5
• Head Coach: John Szentesy | Seventh season (37-133)
 
MANSFIELD LEADERS (Per Game)
SCORING: Diarmid Stewart (10.8), Juju Pagan (10.4)
FG%: Pagan (.543 / 19-35)
3PT%: LaQuan Byrd (.368 / 7-19)
ASSISTS: Sterling Scott (1.6)
REBOUNDS: Stewart (4.2)
STEALS: Stewart (1.4)
BLOCKS: Stewart (0.4)
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock steps out of PSAC play for the final time in the regular season when it hosts Lake Erie College 6 p.m. Dec. 9 at Morrow Field House. The Rock will be looking to avenge last season's 103-82 road loss to the Storm.
 
 
 


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