SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team picked up its second win in as many games after beating Clarion, 83-72, Wednesday night at Morrow Field House.
 
Following the victory, Slippery Rock's record stands at 13-13 overall and 9-9 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference while Clarion leaves SRU at 11-14 overall and 6-13 in league competition. 

The Rock's victory, combined with Pitt-Johnstown's loss to California, clinches a PSAC Tournament berth for SRU. The program will be making its 14th trip to the PSAC Tournament in last 16 years. While seeding is yet to be determined, Slippery Rock does have the chance to play its way into hosting an opening-round game on March 3 as either the third or fourth seed out of the Western Division.
 
Day Waters poured in 23 points to lead Slippery Rock against the Golden Eagles. In addition to connecting on all seven of his free throw attempts Waters also went 4-for-5 from 3-point range on the way to his fourth game of the year with at least 20 points.
 
Jomo Goings went for an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double that also included four assists and one steal. Like Waters, Goings was a perfect 7-of-7 at the foul line all the while going 5-for-11 from the field overall. Goings' offensive production moved him ahead of Glenn Reepmeyer (2002-07) and into 24th place on SRU's career scoring list with 1,055 points.
 
Maceo Austin was the third Rock athlete in double figures with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting overall and two successful foul shots alongside three assists, one block and one steal.
 
Michael Moore continued his rim protecting ways with three blocks to go with five rebounds and four points. Moore has now racked up nine blocks in his last three appearances.
 
Rounding out The Rock's starting five was Luke Howes, who compiled eight points and a pair of assists which moved the point guard ahead of Jamar Scales (2005-09) for 25th on The Rock career assists ledger (163).
 
Ike Herster and O'Meech Wilson came off the bench to chip in nine points apiece with Wilson grabbing three rebounds and Herster collecting one steal.

The Rock and Golden Eagles traded buckets and runs for the overwhelming majority of the opening 20 minutes before Waters sent SRU into halftime with a 42-40 lead courtesy of a 3-pointer as time expired.
 
Waters' buzzer-beater triple at the break gave Slippery Rock a lead it would never relinquish as SRU came out of halftime and promptly went on an 18-8 spurt through the first eight minutes of the second half to earn its first double-digit advantage of the evening at 60-50. Waters accounted for seven more points over the run.
 
The remainder of the night was reminiscent of the first half with SRU and Clarion once again going on an extended stretch of exchanging baskets. The Golden Eagles never seriously threatened The Rock's lead en route to SRU's ninth double-digit victory of the season.

Slippery Rock earned the win thanks in no small part to a great all-around shooting effort. SRU shot 47.1 percent (24-of-51) from the field overall for what was the team's best shooting percentage since going 33-of-66 (.500) at Pitt-Johnstown on Jan. 6.  
 
The Rock also connected on 6-of-14 3-pointers (.429) while converting 29-of-33 free throws (.879). As a team, SRU has made 46 of its last 54 free throw attempts.
 
SRU committed just 10 turnovers, well under its season average of 15.6. The leading shot blocking group in the PSAC also registered five more rejections Wednesday.
 
Clarion closed the contest shooting 40.3 percent (25-of-62) from the field overall, 28 percent (7-of-25) from 3-point range and 83.3 percent (15-of-18) from the foul line. Jeremy Thomas II had a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double for the Golden Eagles.
 
Prior to Wednesday's game Slippery Rock honored its 2025 senior class of Austin, Bobby Clifford, Colin McQuiston and Malik Robinson.
 
Slippery Rock will next play the first of consecutive road games in search of a tournament-berth clinching victory to end its regular season schedule beginning 3 p.m. Saturday at Indiana (Pa.). SRU earned a 75-64 home victory over IUP earlier in the season.




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