GAME PROGRAM INFO
Slippery Rock has moved away from printed game programs for all sports in 2024-25. 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, Pa. - Fresh off one of its most complete performances of the season, the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team will continue its push towards earning a berth into the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament when it hosts Clarion 7:30 p.m. Wednesday 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 6-High School: $5
Ages 6 and Under: FREE
SRU Students: FREE with valid student ID
SENIOR NIGHT
Prior to Wednesday's game The Rock's 2024-25 senior class of
Maceo Austin,
Bobby Clifford,
Colin McQuiston and
Malik Robinson, as well as student managers Brionna Diggs, Keyshawn Hodge, Nick Mote, Nikko Poole, Jaden Vincent and Zach Weakland, will be recognized for their contributions to the program over their collegiate careers.
WATCH ON YOUR TV - "ROCK ATHLETICS DIGITAL NETWORK" APPS
• Fans can watch Wednesday'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 26 DETAILS
Opponent: Clarion
Date: Wednesday – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
Venue: Morrow Field House
Tickets: Link
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter/X (@Rock_Athletics)
SERIES HISTORY vs. CLARION
Overall: Slippery Rock leads 114-85
Current Streak: Clarion W1
At Morrow Field House: Tied 26-26
First Meeting: Feb. 6, 1911 (SRU won 25-23)
Last Meeting: Jan. 18, 2025 (Clarion won 97-87)
Most Points, SRU: 107 - Jan. 6, 1968
Most Points, Clarion: 113 – Feb. 17, 1979
Largest Victory, SRU: 39 (51-12), Jan. 5, 1923
Largest Victory, Clarion: 39 (94-55), Jan 15, 1997
SRU coach Ian Grady vs. Clarion: 9-2
Clarion coach Damian Pitts vs. SRU: 1-8
Wednesday will mark the 200th game between Slippery Rock and Clarion. The latest chapter in a series that started in 1911 begins with The Rock having won 11 of the last 12 games, but the Golden Eagles laying claim to the most recent victory between the two in a 97-87 decision earlier in the season in Tippin Gymnasium.
Slippery Rock and Clarion have evenly split 52 games between the two teams that have been played at Morrow Field House since the facility's opening in 1959. SRU has not lost to Clarion at home since 2016.
ROCK STARS vs. CLARION
•
Maceo Austin: 19 Points, 6 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 3 Steals (1 GP)
•
Jomo Goings: 16.8 Points, 5.8 Rebounds, 1.8 Blocks, 1.4 Steals (5 GP)
•
Ike Herster: 15.6 Points, 4.7 Rebounds (3 GP)
•
Luke Howes: 12.3 Points, 4.3 Assists, 2.7 Steals (3 GP)
•
Day Waters: 12 Points (1 GP)
•
Sheick Samoura: 9.0 Points (2 GP)
ROCK-GOLDEN EAGLES ROUND 1 (Box Score)
Slippery Rock was unable to pull off a second-half comeback in a 97-87 road loss at Clarion on Jan. 18. SRU, which trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half, cut its deficit down to four points on three separate occasions in the second half, but could never quite complete its comeback bid.
The Rock had five athletes finish in double figures led by
Jomo Goings (20),
Luke Howes (19),
Sheick Samoura (18),
Day Waters (12) and
Ike Herster (11). Clarion shot 10-of-24 from 3-point range (.417) and was led by Trey Nelson's triple-double of 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
| TEAM COMPARISON |
| SRU |
STAT |
CLARION |
| 75.3 |
Points per Game |
76.2 |
| 75.9 |
Opp. Points per Game |
77.9 |
| .421 |
Field Goal Pct. |
.452 |
| .440 |
Opp. Field Goal Pct. |
.442 |
| .283 |
3-Point Pct. |
.372 |
| .340 |
Opp 3-Point Pct. |
.339 |
| 6.2 |
3-PT Made per Game |
8.9 |
| .739 |
Free Throw Pct. |
.741 |
| 16.8 |
FT Made Per Game |
13.4 |
| 37.7 |
Rebounds per Game |
35.0 |
| 39.7 |
Opp. Rebounds per Game |
36.5 |
| -2.0 |
Rebounding Margin |
-1.5 |
| +1.0 |
Turnover Margin |
-1.8 |
| 10.2 |
Steals |
7.0 |
| 4.7 |
Blocks |
4.2 |
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock led for over 39 minutes in an impressive 84-64 road victory at Pitt-Johnstown while Clarion was unable to hold onto a 16-point second half lead in an eventual 78-65 loss to Clarion. Both games were played Feb. 15.
RECORDS
SRU's win at Pitt-Johnstown snapped a season-long losing streak of four games to improve its record to 12-13 overall and 8-9 in the PSAC West. Clarion comes to SRU on a three-game slide which has dropped its record to 11-13 overall and 6-12 in league games.
PSAC TOURNAMENT UPDATE
The top six teams from both the PSAC West and PSAC East at the end of the regular season qualify for the PSAC Tournament.
• Despite there being just 11 days left in the regular season, only one team in the PSAC West has secured a spot in the upcoming conference tournament: division leader Gannon has already clinched a tournament berth in addition to assuring itself of the top seed out of the Western Division with a 15-3 league record.
• Entering Wednesday's slate of games, California (10-7) and Edinboro (10-7) are tied for second place in the PSAC West Standings. California can punch its ticket to the conference tournament with a victory over Pitt-Johnstown or an Indiana (Pa.) loss at Seton Hill. While Edinboro is idle, the Fighting Scots would also clinch a tournament berth via an IUP loss.
• Slippery Rock sits alone in fourth place in the divisional standings, two games behind Edinboro and California for second place as well as being a half game in front of Seton Hill (7-9), a full game ahead of Pitt-Johnstown (7-10) and 1.5 games better than Indiana (6-10).
• If the season ended today, IUP (6-10) and Clarion (6-12) would be the two teams from the PSAC West to miss the conference tournament in sixth and seventh place, respectively. While Indiana still has four games to play in its conference schedule, and thus plenty opportunities to play its way into tournament contention, Clarion is in dire need of a victory against SRU to keep its tournament hopes alive.
• SRU won't be able to officially punch its ticket into the tournament, a victory over Clarion on Wednesday would send The Rock in Saturday's game at IUP with a "win and in" clinch scenario.
• While the postseason picture in the Western Division is blurry at best, the Eastern Division already has five teams that have clinched tournament berths in West Chester, East Stroudsburg, Millersville, Shepherd and Lock Haven.
• Slippery has made the PSAC Tournament in 13 of the last 15 seasons.
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
•
Stats: Link
•
Roster: Link
•
Overall Record: 12-13
•
PSAC Record: 8-9
•
PSAC West Standings: 4th
•
Home Record: 8-9
•
Away Record: 5-5
•
Streak: W1
•
Last 5 Games: 1-4
•
Head Coach: Ian Grady | Seventh season (96-75, .561)
PITT-JOHNSTOWN RECAP
Highlighted by a pair of huge performances from
Maceo Austin and
Jomo Goings, Slippery Rock led for over 39 minutes on the way to an 84-64 PSAC West win Feb. 15 at Pitt-Johnstown.
Not only did The Rock shoot 46.2 percent (30-of-65) from the field and a stellar 81 percent (17-of-21) at the foul line, but SRU also forced Pitt-Johnstown into 21 turnovers in addition to pocketing 16 steals, blocking six shots and holding a +2 rebounding margin (35-33).
Austin exited the win with 26 points, seven rebounds, six steals, four assists and one block. Goings went for 25 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block.
Fellow starters
Luke Howes,
Day Waters and
Michael Moore all had big games as well.
Howes and Waters both finished in double figures with Howes supplying Slippery Rock with 14 points and two steals while Waters added 11 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals. In his fourth start of the season, Moore blocked a season-high four shots, scored four points and collected two steals.
AUSTIN EARNS WEEKLY HONOR
For the fourth time in his two-year Slippery Rock career,
Maceo Austin was named the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week after helping to lead The Rock to a 1-1 record that included a victory over Pitt-Johnstown and a home loss to PSAC West leader Gannon.
Over two games last week Austin averaged 20.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 4.5 steals and 0.5 blocks per game while shooting 53.8 percent from the field overall and 57.1 percent from 3-point range.
Since 2005, Austin is the only the only Slippery Rock athlete to have earned multiple Western Division Defensive Athlete of the Week honors.
A LOOK AT THE SENIORS
• Following a star-studded prep career at Kennedy Catholic High School,
Maceo Austin attended Duquesne University where he started 33 of 38 games played prior to transferring to The Rock at the start of the 2023-24 season. Over the last two years, Austin has started 43 games for SRU while averaging 16.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.
An All-PSAC West selection last season, Austin is well on his way to earning the honor yet again with per game averages of 16.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.4 steals as well as a .483 shooting percentage this year.
• Originally a member of Slippery Rock's 2019-20 recruiting class,
Bobby Clifford was the first recruit signed by the current coaching staff in 2018 out of Taylor Allderdice High School.
Since signing with SRU, Clifford has gone on to appear in 108 games for the Green and White while amassing 610 points, 385 rebounds, 104 assists, 59 steals and 46 blocks. He'll leave Slippery Rock with two degrees and is currently ranked ninth in program history for games played, 11th in total minutes (2,454), 20th in made 3-pointers (78) and 21st in blocks.
As a senior, Clifford has started four of 21 games played while providing SRU with 5.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 18 total blocks.
•
Colin McQuiston, a member of Slippery Rock's 2020-21 recruiting class and product of Shenango High School, has served as a reserve guard for SRU during his collegiate career. The Wampum, Pennsylvania native has made 27 appearances for Slippery Rock with 16 points scored and 15 assists distributed in addition to being a PSAC Scholar-Athlete as a freshman.
• A former all-district and All-City League performer at Taylor Allderdice,
Malik Robinson worked his way up the ranks inside the program over his career. After spending 2021-22 as a team manager, Robinson earned a spot on the official roster prior to the 2022-23 campaign and has served as a reserve guard ever since. The two-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete has played in four games during his time with The Rock.
GOINGS IS ONE OF A KIND
Jomo Goings turned in a stat line of 25 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block in the Pitt-Johnstown win for what was the latest in a long list a great all-around performances for The Rock's redshirt junior.
A starter in 18 of 21 games played this season, Goings heads into the Clarion game averaging 17.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.5 steals per game while having blocked 18 shots and shooting 83.1 percent at the foul line. He ranks second in the PSAC in steals, sixth in free throw percentage and ninth in scoring.
According to the NCAA statistical database, as of Tuesday afternoon Goings is the only athlete in the entire NCAA - regardless of division - to have posted per game averages of at least 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals while shooting at least 80 percent at the foul line.
THEFT IN JOHNSTOWN
One of the many highlights of the victory at Pitt-Johnstown was a defensive performance for SRU that saw The Rock pocket 16 steals on the night.
The 16 steals are tied for the sixth highest single-game steal total in documented program history and represent the third highest total against fellow Division II teams. The program single-game record was already set this year with 24 against Penn State New Kensington.
Six different Rock athletes helped towards the historic steal total led by
Maceo Austin (6),
Jomo Goings (3),
Luke Howes (2),
Day Waters (2),
Michael Moore (2) and
Ike Herster (1).
Slippery Rock enters the Clarion game ranked 21st in the nation, and second in the PSAC, in steals per game with 10.2 per contest. This year's team has already recorded the sixth highest single-season steal total in program history (254) and is on pace to record the third highest steals per game average ever at The Rock history as well.
SRU Single-Game Steal Records
1. 24 vs. Penn State New Kensington (Jan. 11, 2025)
2. 20 vs. Lock Haven (Feb. 9, 2011)
t3. 18 vs. Ohio State Mansfield (Nov. 22, 2008)
t3. 18 vs. Penn State Allegheny (Dec. 9, 2021)
t5. 16 vs. Pitt-Johnstown (Feb. 15, 2025)
t5. 16 vs. Penn State Fayette (Dec. 2, 2008)
ROCK TO HONOR 1,000-POINT DUO
In addition to Slippery Rock's Senior Night festivities, Slippery Rock will also recognize its two athletes that have scored their 1,000th career points this year –
Jomo Goings and
Ike Herster.
Goings, The Rock's leading scorer on the season at 17.4 ppg, became the 25th athlete in program history to score 1,000 career points in a Slippery Rock uniform during SRU's last home game against Gannon on Feb. 12. He has recorded 1,037 points so far in his 83-game Slippery Rock career.
After scoring 384 points during his three years at Gannon University, Herster has scored 779 points since coming to The Rock for a career total of 1,163. His 1,000th career point official came against Bloomsburg on Dec. 7. This year, Herster averages 14.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.
Goings and Herster could soon be joined by another Rock player on the current roster with 1,000 points –
Maceo Austin needs 47 points to reach the career milestone after netting 229 points at Duquesne and 724 with SRU.
All told, seven current Rock athletes have scored at least 500 points over their entire collegiate careers.
Player (Schools): Points
Ike Herster (Gannon / Slippery Rock): 1,163
Jomo Goings (Slippery Rock): 1,037
Maceo Austin (Duquesne / Slippery Rock): 953
Day Waters (Millersville / Slippery Rock): 779
Luke Howes (Walsh / Slippery Rock): 743
Bobby Clifford (Slippery Rock) : 610
O'Meech Wilson (Howard CC / Slippery Rock): 506
MOORE BLOCKS
Michael Moore's four blocks against Pitt-Johnstown marked his seventh multi-block game of the year. Moore, who ranks 12th in the PSAC with 21 total blocks this year, anchors a Rock team that leads the conference in blocks per game by a team (4.72).
WATERS' SCORING STREAK HIS 7
Day Waters pushed his double-digit scoring streak to seven games following an 11-point showing against Pitt-Johnstown. Waters, who averages 11.5 points per game on the year overall, has went for 17 ppg over this current stretch. In addition to his increased scoring production, Waters has also pulled in 4.4 rpg while on his double-digit scoring run.
HOWES RETURNS TO LINEUP
After missing the California game, Rock point guard
Luke Howes returned to his spot in SRU's starting lineup against Pitt-Johnstown as he proceeded to turn in 14 points, three rebounds, two steals and two assists.
Howes has started 21 of his 23 games played this year. In addition to posting 9.8 points, 3.3 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, he also ranks seventh in the PSAC in assist-turnover ratio (1.8).
Across program history, Howes is currently tied for 26th in career assists with current assistant coach
Jon Valeriano with 161.
BORN TO RUN
Slippery Rock ranks 22nd in the nation in fastbreak points per game with 16.36. The Rock have averaged 19.8 fastbreak points per game in their 12 wins this year, but just 13.3 over their 13 losses.
HOW THE ROCK COMPARES (PSAC TEAM RANKINGS)
• Scoring: 11th (75.3)
• Points Allowed Per Game: 8th (75.9)
• Scoring Margin: 10th (-0.6)
• Field Goal %: 15th (.421)
• Opponent Field Goal %: 9th (.440)
• 3pt-Field Goal %: 17th (.283)
• Opponent 3pt-Field Goal %: 12th (.340)
• 3pt Made Per Game: 14th (6.2)
• Free Throw %: 7th (.739)
• Free Throws Made Per Game: 4th (16.8)
• Rebounds Per Game: 8th (37.7)
• Rebounding Margin: 14th (-2.0)
• Turnovers Per Game: 17th (15.6)
• Opponent Turnovers Per Game: 3rd (16.6)
• Turnover Margin: 5th (+1.0)
• Steals Per Game: 2nd (10.2)
• Blocks Per Game: 1st (4.7)
ROCK AMONG PSAC'S BEST (INDIVIDUAL LEADERS)
Jomo Goings
•
Steals: (2nd / 2.5)
•
FT%: (6th / .831)
•
Scoring: (9th / 17.4)
•
FG%: (14th / .460)
•
Assists: (16th / 3.1)
•
Rebounding: (17th / 6.2)
Luke Howes
•
Assist/Turnover Ratio: (7th / 1.8)
•
Assists: (14th / 3.3)
•
Steals: (24th / 1.3)
Michael Moore
•
Blocks: (8th / 1.1)
O'Meech Wilson
•
Blocks: (12th / 1.0)
Ike Herster
•
FT%: (16th / .786)
•
Scoring: (17th / 14.6)
•
FG%: (17th / .420)
RECORD WATCH
Games Played (6-9)
6.
Nik Cazacu (2018-24): 113
7. Joe Vines (2005-11): 111
8. Jamar Scales (2005-009): 110
t9. Bobby Clifford: 108
t9. Bob McConnell (1988-92): 108
Steals (7-9)
7. Jamar Scales (2005-09): 138
8. Troy Mild (1980-84): 129
t9. Jomo Goings: 127
t9. Micah Till (2017-20): 127
Made 3-Pointers (9-13)
9. Amante Britt (2018-23): 112
10. C. Russell (1987-91): 101
11. Jomo Goings: 95
12. Ike Herster: 93
13. Shaun Grill (2002-04): 91
Minutes (9-13)
9. Tabari Perry (2010-14): 2,701
10. Jamar Scales (2005-09): 2,484
11. Bobby Clifford: 2,454
12. Louie Moore (1997-00): 2,411
13. Bob McConnell (1988-92): 2,408
Scoring (20-25)
20. Curt Williams (1984-88): 1,086
21. Mark Metzka (1991-95): 1,073
22. Dave Freeman (1998-03): 1,069
23. Amante Britt (2018-23): 1,065
24. Glenn Reepmeyer (2002-07): 1,041
25. Jomo Goings: 1,037
Assists (21-26)
21. Randy McKavish (1996-00): 187
22. Dan Heiman (1991-94): 173
23. Eroll Robinson (2005-09): 168
24. Jomo Goings: 164
25. Jamar Scales (2005-09): 162
t26. Luke Howes (2023-Active): 161
t26.
Jon Valeriano (2010-12): 161
REMAINING SCHEDULE
Feb. 22: at Indiana (Pa.) 3 p.m.)
Feb: 26: at Edinboro (7:30 p.m.)
March 3: vs. PSAC Tournament (If qualified)
CLARION PRIMER
•
Stats: Link
•
Roster: Link
•
Overall Record: 11-13
•
PSAC Record: 6-12
•
PSAC West Standings: 8th
•
Home Record: 6-5
•
Away Record: 4-8
•
Neutral Site Record: 1-0
•
Streak: L3
•
Last 5 Games: 1-4
•
Head Coach: Damian Pitts | Seventh season at Clarion (40-106, .274)
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES
• Since opening the season with an 8-3 record, Clarion has lost 10 of its last 13 games to put itself in the must-win with help postseason outlook the Golden Eagles currently find themselves in.
• Cam Kearney is on pace to win a PSAC scoring title at 21.5 points per game to go with 5.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He shoots 50.5 percent from the field overall, 46.6 percent from distance and is an 86.4 percent shooter at the foul line. Kearney, the No. 17 scorer in Division II, went for 22 points in the Golden Eagles' Jan. 18 win over SRU.
• The quartet of Jeremy Thomas II (10.7), Gavin Cote (9.8), Trey Nelson (9.8) and Justice Easter (9.0) supplement Kearney's offensive production. Cote ranks ninth in the PSAC in made 3-pointers with Nelson also leading the PSAC in assists (5.5 apg) and Thomas II ranking second in in blocks (1.8 bpg)
• Clarion, which ranks in the middle of the PSAC in both scoring (76.7) and points allowed (77.9) enter Morrow Field House leading the conference in 3-point accuracy (.376) while ranking fourth in turnovers a contest with just 13.4.
GOLDEN EAGLE LEADERS (Per Game)
SCORING: Cam Kearney (21.5), Jeremy Thomas II (10.7)
FG%: Kearney (.505 / 153-303)
3PT%: Kearney (.466 / 34-73)
ASSISTS: Trey Nelson (5.5)
REBOUNDS: Thomas II (6.2)
STEALS: Nelson (1.7)
BLOCKS: Thomas II (1.8)
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock will play the first of consecutive road games to end its regular season schedule 3 p.m. Saturday at Indiana University (Pa.). SRU earned a 75-64 home victory over IUP earlier in the season.
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).
