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. Lake Erie
The Rock (7-1)	Storm (5-3)
Roster	Roster
Schedule	Schedule
Statistics	Statistics
Coach Ian Grady	Coach Kyle Conley
Program Records	Program Records
PSAC Standings
PSAC Leaders
PSAC Schedule
Morrow Field House
Tickets
Game Notes

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team looks to stretch its winning streak to five games when it hosts Lake Erie College 6 p.m. Tuesday for a non-conference game 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 9 DETAILS
Opponent: Lake Erie College
Date: Tuesday – 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)
 
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: SRU leads 6-3
Current Streak: LEC W1
At Morrow Field House: Slippery Rock leads 5-0
First Meeting: Jan. 26, 1991 (SRU won 101-63)
Last Meeting: Nov. 27, 2024 (LEC won 103-82)
Most Points, SRU: 120 - Nov. 22, 1991
Most Points, LEC: 103 - Nov. 27, 2024
Largest Victory, SRU: 28 (Twice)
Largest Victory, LEC: 21 (103-82, Nov. 27, 2024)
SRU coach Ian Grady vs. Lake Erie: 0-1
LEC coach Kyle Conley vs. SRU: 1-0
 
After the series was dormant from 2014-23, Slippery Rock and Lake Erie will be playing for a second consecutive year.
 
While The Rock owns a 6-3 overall record against Lake Erie, including a perfect 5-0 mark against LEC at Morrow Field House, the Storm claimed the most recent win between the two in the form of a convincing 103-82 triumph a season ago. The Rock's 21-point loss to Lake Erie was the program's largest non-conference defeat since the opening of the 2023-24 season when Daemen earned an 86-62 victory over SRU.
 
Slippery Rock has three athletes that played over 20 minutes in last year's game against Lake Erie in Ike Herster (22 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals), Maceo Austin (25 points, 4 steals) and Sheick Samoura (11 points).
 
Lake Erie's current roster features five athletes that played at least 15 minutes in last season's win against SRU including 2025-26 starters Kai Bloom and Jake Leibacher, although Leibacher has been inactive since Nov. 22.
 
RECORDS
In the midst of one of its best starts to a season in program history, Slippery Rock welcomes Lake Erie on an impressive four-game winning streak which has bolstered its record to 7-1 overall. Victims of back-to-back overtime losses, Lake Erie comes to Morrow Field House at 5-3.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock grinded out an 85-78 road win over Mansfield in its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opener. Lake Erie lost to Great Midwest Athletic Conference rival Hillsdale, 96-86, on the road in double overtime.
 

TEAM COMPARISON
THE ROCK	STAT	STORM
87.0	Points per Game	92.0
75.1	Opp. Points per Game	86.6
48.3%	Field Goal Pct.	42.5%
39.6%	Opp. Field Goal Pct.	48.0%
35.3%	3-Point Pct.	32.5%
26.1%	Opp 3-Point Pct.	33.9%
6.6	3-Pointers Made per Game	10.9
74.1%	Free Throw Pct.	74.7%
43.0	Rebounds per Game	40.5
35.2	Opp. Rebounds per Game	39.5
+7.8	Rebounding Margin	+1.0
14.1	Assists	19.6
-2.6	Turnover Margin	+6.0
6.6	Steals	10.9
2.9	Blocks	2.3
Per game averages

SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• Overall Record: 7-1
• PSAC Record: 1-0
• PSAC West Standings: t-1st
• Home Record: 5-0
• Away Record: 2-1
• Streak: W4
• Last 5 Games: 4-1
• Head Coach: Ian Grady | Eighth season (106-77)

MANSFIELD RECAP
Slippery Rock defeated Mansfield, 85-78, on the road Dec. 6 to notch its fourth consecutive win, improve to 7-1 overall and take its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opener.
 
While Mansfield kept the game close throughout the duration of the contest, Slippery Rock still ended the victory having led for over 35 minutes (35:16). All five of The Rock's starters finished in double figures.
 
Slippery Rock finished the game shooting 46.9 percent from the field overall (30-of-64) despite going only 4-for-16 from 3-point territory. SRU converted 21-of-25 free throws (.840), including 11 of its final 14 foul shots in the game's final two minutes.
 
A HISTORIC START
Slippery Rock has now won at least seven of its first eight games for the 13th time in the program's 115-year history. A victory against Lake Erie would give SRU an 8-1 record, putting this year's team among just nine other Slippery Rock squads that have won at least eight of its first nine games.

TIED FOR MOST WINS IN ATLANTIC REGION
Slippery Rock's four-game winning streak as vaulted The Rock into a tie with Seton Hill, Virginia Union and Shaw for the most wins in the Atlantic Region (7).

NON-CONFERENCE DOMINANCE
Dating back to the 2008-09 season, SRU has posted a 63-13 record (.829) in non-conference games at Morrow Field House as well as a 107-54 (.665) mark outside of the PSAC overall.
 
Regardless of the Lake Erie outcome, Slippery Rock is already assured of finishing the regular season with a winning non-conference record for the first time since 2022-23. However, a win over the Storm would vault this year's team into a tie with the 2022-23 and 2017-18 rosters for the most regular season non-conference wins inside the program over the last 11 years. 

PERFECT AT HOME
SRU is a perfect 5-0 at home this season. A victory over Lake Erie would tie this year's team for 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. 2010-11: 6
t9. 2008-09: 6
t9. 2023-24: 6
t9. 1963-64: 6
t9. 1962-63: 6

MORROW MAGIC
Since 2008-09, SRU is an outstanding 181-58 (.757) 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.

EVERYONE CAN HURT YOU
All five of Slippery Rock's starters finished in double figures as part of SRU's victory over Mansfield, already marking the seventh 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 five qualified athletes currently averaging at least 10 points per game in Dame Givner (14.9), Ike Herster (13.9), Isaac James (12.9), Elijah Hill (11.5) and Brady Mayo (10.1). Maceo Austin also scores 15.0 ppg, but he has been limited to just one game played so far this year.
 
In its eight games, Slippery Rock has had five different athletes hold high-scorer honors.

THE ROCK ROTATION
• Dame Givner leads a host of young Rock athletes that have made big time contributions this season. In addition to leading SRU in scoring with 14.9 points per game, Givner also distributes 3.1 assists, makes 1.0 steals and even grabs 4.3 rebounds a contest all the while shooting 43.2 percent from the field and 81.1 percent at the foul line.
 
• Arguably SRU's most consistent scorer, Ike Herster has been good for 13.9 ppg and 4.3 rpg this year on shooting percentages of .436 (FG%), .423 (3pt%) and .831 (FT%).
 
• Fresh off a season-high 19 points at Mansfield, Isaac James continues to stuff the box score with per game averages of 12.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists. He also shoots 53.8 percent.
 
• One of three Rock freshmen to start all eight games this season, Elijah Hill has nabbed two double-doubles in his last three games to up his season averages to 11.5 points and 6.6 rebounds. A remarkably accurate shooter, Hill has converted 70 percent of his field goals and 75 percent of his 3-point attempts (9-12).
 
• Another freshman starter, Brady Mayo goes for 10.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.
 
• A dynamic shot blocker, Sheick Samoura has registered 15 blocks this year to go with 5.3 points and 4.0 rebounds a night.
 
• 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. Seven of his 16 rebounds have come on the offensive glass.
 
• RJ Sledge is The Rock's first guard off the bench. In addition to scoring 7.9 ppg, Sledge also distributes 2.5 apg while matching Mayo for team-high honors in steals (9). Sledge has committed multiple turnovers in a game in just three of eight outings.
 
• Mack Staunch is 20th in the PSAC in offensive rebounding with 1.8 orpg.
 
• 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).

CALM AND COOL AT THE LINE
Thanks to four of the top-11 free throw shooters in the PSAC, SRU ranks third in the conference in foul shot accuracy at 74.1 percent. 
 
The quintet of Brady Mayo (26-27), RJ Sledge (20-24), Ike Herster (32-39), Dame Givner (27-33) and Braylon Littlejohn (8-8) are all shooting at least 81.8 percent at the foul line. Mayo leads the PSAC, and ranks 16th in the country, in free throw percentage.
 
Entering Tuesday, Givner (12) and Mayo (10) both have double-digit streaks of consecutive free throws made.
 
Slippery Rock ranks 19th in the country in free throws made per game with 19.6.

HERSTER CLOSING IN ON 1K
With a minimum of 20 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 13.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game this season, is 66 points away from reaching the scoring milestone. At his rate, Herster would hit 1,000 points Jan. 2 against Bloomsburg.
 
While Herster is nearing SRU 1,000-point milestone, he's already scored 1,318 points in the totality of his college career between his time at SRU and at Gannon.
 
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.

GIVNER 4th IN ROOKIE SCORING
Slippery Rock freshman Dame Givner, who averages 14.9 points per game, opens the week ranked fourth in the Atlantic Region, which consists of the PSAC, Mountain East Conference and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, in terms of scoring amongst his freshmen counterparts.
 
Top Rookie Scorers in Atlantic Region
1. Rowan Carmichael (Edinboro): 18.6  
2. Ayden Goll (Wheeling): 16.8
3. Julius Olanrewaju (Lincoln): 16.0
4. Dame Givner (The Rock): 14.9

ATTACKING THE GLASS
As is typically the case with Slippery Rock teams, rebounding continues to be a strength for SRU this season as The Rock ranks 19th in the nation in total rebounding (43.00), 25th in offensive rebounding (14.88) and 30th in rebounding margin (+7.8).

JAMES IN RARE COMPANY
Isaac James has had a great start to his Slippery Rock career as the Salem transfer has averaged 12.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 53.8 percent from the field. James is one of only two athletes in the PSAC – along with Seton Hill's Kedrick Curtis to average at least 12.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game and shoot above 50 percent.

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 Dame Givner's 22-point showing against Mansfield, this year's roster has now 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)
 
Only two other freshmen in the PSAC have scored more points in a game this year than RJ Sledges 26 against Glenville State: Edinboro's Rowan Carmichael (31 vs. Point Park) and Shepherd's Colby White (31 vs. Frostburg State).
 
Givner has reached the 20-point threshold three times, with Elijah Hill and Sledge notching one each. The most points scored by a freshman at The Rock since 2001-02 was Jamar Scales' 34 against California in 2005-06.

TUESDAY'S GONE
While not an overly common occurrence, when SRU does play on Tuesday's it typically wins. SRU is a near perfect 9-1 when playing games on Tuesday under head coach Ian Grady. Tomorrow's game is the second of three Tuesday's encounters this year for SRU, which previously beat Glenville Staate (92-81) and will later play Shepherd on Dec. 16.

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 7-1 start. All eight of the SRU athletes to have played at least eight games this season, hold strong +/-, both on the aggregate and average.
 
SRU +/- Leaders (Min. 5 games played)
Total (per game)
Sheick Samoura: +95 (+12.3)
Isaac James: +85 (+10.6)
Ike Herster: +74 (+9.3)
Elijah Hill: +53 (+6.6)
Brady Mayo: +53 (+6.6)
Dame Givner: +47 (+5.9)
RJ Sledge: +24 (+3.0)
Mack Staunch: +9 (+1.1)
 
PLAYING IN FRONT
In its seven wins this season, SRU has led for an average of 33:01 minutes per game. SRU has trailed for less than two minutes in five of its seven 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.

SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE
Tuesday's game will be an interesting matchup of strengths between Slippery Rock and Lake Erie. In its first eight games SRU has limited opponents to a collective 3-point shooting percentage of just .261, which leads the PSAC and ranks seventh in the nation. Lake Erie meanwhile attempts 33.5 3-pointers per game, making 10.9 per contest. The Storm's leading scorer - Gavin Welch – is shooting 47.3 percent (26-of-55) from distance. He is 27th in the country in 3-point accuracy.

CONVINCING WINS
Of Slippery Rock's seven wins this season, five have come by double digits. The Rock's average margin of victory in 2025-26 is 15.6 points. 
 
HOW THE ROCK COMPARES (PSAC TEAM RANKINGS)
• Scoring: 6th (87.0)
• Points Allowed Per Game: 8th (75.1)
• Scoring Margin: 5th (+11.9)
• Field Goal %: 7th (.483)
• Opponent Field Goal %: 1st (.396)
• 3pt-Field Goal %: 7th (.353)
• Opponent 3pt-Field Goal %: 1st (.261)
• 3pt Made Per Game: 13th (6.6)
• Free Throw %: 3rd (.741)
• Free Throws Made Per Game: 3rd (19.6)
• Rebounds Per Game: 2nd (43.0)
• Rebounding Margin: 3rd (+7.8)
• Turnovers Per Game: 12th (16.5)
• Opponent Turnovers Per Game: 11th (13.9)
• Turnover Margin: 15th (-2.6)
• Steals Per Game: 12th (6.6)
• Blocks Per Game: 11th (2.9)
 
ROCK AMONG PSAC'S BEST (INDIVIDUAL LEADERS)
Brady Mayo
• FT %: (1st / .963)
 
Sheick Samoura
• Total Blocks: (1st / 19)
• Blocks Per Game: (1st / 1.9)
 
Isaac James
• Total Rebounding: (9th / 7.5)
• FG %: (9th / .538)
• Offensive Rebounding: (13th / 2.3)
• Assist-Turnover Ratio: (17th / 1.5)
• Assists: (18th / 3.4)
 
RJ Sledge
• FT %: (6th / .833)
 
Elijah Hill
• Offensive Rebounding: (7th / 2.9)
• Total Rebounding: (14th / 6.6)
 
Ike Herster
• FT %: (9th / .821)
 
Dame Givner
• FT %: (11th / .818)
• Scoring: (21st / 14.9)
• Assists: (21st / 3.1)
• Assist-Turnover Ratio: (25th / 0.9)
 
Mack Staunch
• Offensive Rebounding: (20th / 1.8)
 
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): 108
 
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): 934
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 (57 Games, 2023-Active): 57
 
NEXT FIVE GAMES
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
Jan. 3 (3 p.m.) vs. East Stroudsburg
 
LAKE ERIE PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• Overall Record: 5-3
• G-MAC Record: 0-2
• G-MAC Standings: t-10th
• Home Record: 1-1
• Away Record: 1-2
• Neutral Site Record: 3-0
• Streak: L3
• Last 5 Games: 2-3
• Head Coach: Kyle Conley | 10th season (114-141)

SCOUTING LAKE ERIE
• Lake Erie enters Morrow Field House looking to snap a three-game losing streak after starting the season with five consecutive victories.
 
• Two of three losses have been overtime defeats against Walsh (93-88) and Hillsdale (96-86) with the other setback coming on the road at Gannon (105-75).
 
• The Storm will bring a high-octane style of play to Morrow Field House that features a near constant press to go along with a barrage of 3-point attempts (33.5 per game).
 
• Through eight games, Lake Erie ranks sixth in the nation in turnovers forced per game (21.38) and 10th in turnover margin (+6.0).
 
• Offensively, Lake Erie boasts Division II's 17th highest scoring average of 92.0 points per game thanks in no small part to making 10.9 3-pointers per game - the 16th best average in D2 - as well as collecting 15.75 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks 15th in the country.
 
• Storm head coach Kyle Conley plays 11 athletes at least 12 minutes per game. The Lake Erie attack is paced by the duo of Gavin Welch (14.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and Amari Williams (13.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.1 spg.
 
• Kai Bloom and Gio Moore supplement the offense at 11.6 and 11.0 ppg, respectively, with Bloom also tallying 3.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game.

UP NEXT
Slippery Rock returns to PSAC crossover competition when it hosts Shepherd University 5 p.m. Dec. 16 at Morrow Field House. SRU will then hit the road for crossover games at Shippensburg (Dec. 20) and Lock Haven (Dec. 21) before breaking for 11 days.





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