NOTE: All statistics, records, facts and figures are accurate as of Dec. 28
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, Pa. - After winning 10 of its first 12 games to start the season, the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team returns from an 11-day break to begin the second half of its season with back-to-back Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference games this weekend at Morrow Field House.
SCHEDULE
Friday: vs. Bloomsburg – 5 p.m.
Saturday: vs. East Stroudsburg – 3 p.m.
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 both of this weekend's games 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 13 DETAILS
Opponent: Bloomsburg University
Date: Friday – 5 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 vs. BLOOMSBURG
Overall: SRU leads 17-12
Current Streak: SRU W5
At Slippery Rock: SRU leads 8-4
First Meeting: Feb. 3, 1931 (Bloomsburg won 55-40)
Last Meeting: Dec. 7, 2024 (SRU won 80-72)
Most Points, SRU: 90 - Dec. 19, 2018
Most Points, BU: 101 - Feb. 7, 1982
Largest Victory, SRU: 27 (82-55, Jan. 7, 2015)
Largest Victory, BU: 29 (101-72, Feb. 7, 1982)
SRU coach Ian Grady vs. Bloomsburg: 4-0
BU coach Chris Bess vs. SRU: 0-2
• Slippery Rock has won five straight games against Bloomsburg, and 10 of 12 overall, to earn a 17-12 all-time record in the series. A year ago, SRU downed the Huskies, 80-72, in Bloomsburg behind a 20-point, six-rebound showing from
Ike Herster.
GAME 14 DETAILS
Opponent: East Stroudsburg University
Date: Saturday – 3 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 vs. ESU
Overall: ESU leads 18-6
Current Streak: SRU W1
At Slippery Rock: ESU leads 7-2
First Meeting: March. 18, 1927 (ESU won 43-33)
Last Meeting: Dec. 21, 2024 (SRU won 83-81, OT)
Most Points, SRU: 102 - March 9, 1990
Most Points, ESU: 103 - March 9, 1990
Largest Victory, SRU: 14 (77-63, March 8, 1991)
Largest Victory, ESU: 27 (93-66, Dec. 30, 2022)
SRU coach Ian Grady vs. ESU: 2-2
ESU coach Jeff Wilson vs. SRU: 13-4
• While East Stroudsburg holds an 18-6 record against The Rock all-time, it has been SRU that's bettered the Warriors of late with two wins in the last three games of the series including an 83-81 overtime victory on the road a season ago when SRU held off a second-half ESU charge behind a combined 30 points from
Maceo Austin and
Luke Howes. Austin also grabbed seven rebounds and made three steals in the win.
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
•
Stats: Link
•
Roster: Link
•
Overall Record: 10-2
•
PSAC Record: 3-1
•
PSAC West Standings: t-5th
•
Home Record: 7-0
•
Away Record: 3-2
•
Streak: L1
•
Last 5 Games: 4-1
•
Head Coach: Ian Grady | Eighth season (109-78)
SEASON RESET
The 2025-26 season to date has seen The Rock go on an impeccable run with a 10-2 overall record in their first 12 games, including a 3-1 PSAC mark, for what has been one of the best starts to a year in program history.
Wins have been plentiful against West Virginia Wesleyan, Davis & Elkins, Wheeling, Glenville State, D'Youville, Lincoln, Mansfield, Lake Erie, Shepherd and Shippensburg.
Slippery Rock's only losses this season have come on the road against a then-ranked No. 5 Fairmont State squad in a close 93-89 decision and another tight 100-93 overtime setback against Lock Haven as part of a contest in which SRU erased a 20-point second half deficit to force an extra five minutes.
ROCK RECEIVING VOTES IN NABC POLL
The Rock was one of 15 teams to be just outside the national rankings in the receiving votes section of the most recent National Association of Basketball Coaches top-25 poll.
Slippery Rock is one of seven teams inside the Atlantic Region (PSAC + MEC + CIAA) to be featured in the poll. This marks the second consecutive week SRU has been receiving votes in the NABC Top-25. This year's team is the first SRU squad to be mentioned in the national poll since the 2012-13 season. The full poll can be viewed
HERE.
The Atlantic Region in the Top-25
No. 10: Gannon (10-1)
No. 16: West Liberty (8-2)
No. 19: Fairmont State (8-2)
No. 25: IUP (8-1)
RV (7): Virginia Union (11-1)
RV (4): The Rock (10-2)
RV (1): Concord (7-3)
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 54-32 (.628) overall against Eastern Division teams. SRU possess a 25-14 (.641) record in crossover games under head coach
Ian Grady.
Slippery Rock holds a 31-12 (.721) record when hosting PSAC East teams at Morrow Field House under the current conference scheduling structure.
So far this season, Slippery Rock is 3-1 against the PSAC East with wins over Mansfield, Shepherd and Shippensburg as well as a loss at Lock Haven.
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.
A HISTORIC START CONTINUED
Slippery Rock has now won at least 10 of its first 12 games for the 12th time in the program's 115-year history. A sweep of Bloomsburg and East Stroudsburg would push this year's team in to a tie for the third-best 14-game start to a season in program history.
Best 14-Game Starts in SRU History
t1. 1923-24: 13-1
t1. 1924-25: 13-1
t2. 2009-10: 12-2
t2. 1945-46: 12-2
t2. 2017-18: 12-2
PERFECT AT HOME
SRU is a perfect 7-0 at home this season. A weekend sweep of Bloomsburg and East Stroudsburg would put this year's team in a tie for the fifth 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
9. 2025-26: 7
GIVNER GOES OFF
Prior to The Rock's break freshman guard
Dame Givner produced one of the top offensive outputs by any rookie in the NCAA this season regardless of Division (I, II, III).
SRU's rookie phenom went for 39 points against Lock Haven, in addition to five steals defensively. Givner's 39-point outburst is the sixth-highest single-game total by a freshman in the NCAA this season. The performance netted Givner his first PSAC West Athlete of the Week award.
Single-Game Freshmen Scoring (NCAA)
1. Quamir Ingram (Greensboro): 48 vs. Oglethorpe
2. Jordan Ellerbee (FGCU): 42 vs. Kennesaw State
3. Alvin Baez (JWU): 41 vs. Framingham State
t4. Ace Glass III (Washington State): 40 vs. Arizona State
t4. Sydney Natche (George Fox): 40 vs. Asbury
6.
Dame Givner (SRU): 39 vs. Lock Haven
Over 12 starts this season, Givner has averaged 16.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 43.5 percent from the field overall, 36.2 percent from 3-point range and 85.5 percent at the foul line. Inside the PSAC Givner ranks fourth in the conference in free throw percentage, 11th in scoring, 19th in assists, 20th in steals and 23rd in field goal percentage.
PRINCE MAKING IMPACT INSIDE
Kerwin Prince entered the longest pause of the season have racked up back-to-back impact performances. After tallying 10 points and seven rebounds in SRU's win at Shippensburg, Prince went for a season-high 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting to go with eight rebounds.
Prince has grabbed at least seven rebounds in his last four appearances to up his season average to 6.5 rpg to go with 9.0 ppg while shooting an efficient 63.2 percent from the field. Nearly half of Prince's rebounds have come on the offensive glass (17 of 39).
MAYO GETTING GOING FROM DEEP
One of a several impact freshmen heavily relied on by SRU this season,
Brady Mayo enters the Bloomsburg game having connected on seven of his last 16 3-point attempts (.438). Already the PSAC's leader in free throw accuracy (.878 / 36-41), Mayo has started 10 of 12 games this season while providing SRU with per game averages of 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals.
SLEDGE MAKES FIRST START
RJ Sledge became the fourth freshman at The Rock to start a game this season when he drew the assignment against Lock Haven. The rookie guard responded by distributing eight assists and committing just two turnovers to go with six points and one steal. Sledge's eight assists were the most in a single-game by a Rock athlete since Amante Britt had eight against Seton Hill during the 2021-22 season.
In 12 appearances this year, Sledge has averaged 7.5 points, 2.7 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. He is shooting 43.3 percent overall, 38.9 percent from 3-point range and 75 percent at the foul line.
EFFICIENT SCORING FROM HILL
Elijah Hill has enjoyed a strong redshirt freshman season to date. A starter in all 12 games, Hill has strung together a solid stat line of 10.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 0.9 steals a game. Hill, who has collected 33 of his 74 rebounds on the offensive glass, has proven that he does not need a large volume of shots to get his points as evidenced by his .662 overall field goal percentage. He has shot below 60 percent from the field in a game just twice this year.
HERSTER 56 AWAY FROM 1,000
With a minimum of 16 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 12.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game this season, is 27 points away from reaching the scoring milestone. At his current ppg rate, Herster would hit 1,000 points Jan. 7 at Clarion.
While Herster is nearing SRU 1,000-point milestone, he's already scored 1,357 points in the totality of his college career between his time at SRU and Gannon. His 973 points in a Rock uniform also represent the sixth highest point total by a transfer to come to SRU in program history. Herster also ranks ninth in program history in career 3-pointers.
JAMES STRONG AT HOME
Isaac James has been strong all year for Slippery Rock, but the transfer forward from Salem University has performed particularly well in The Rock's seven home games this season. In helping SRU to a perfect record at Morrow Field House, James has averaged 12.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 58.7 percent overall and 44.4 percent from 3-point range.
NO FLY ZONE
Sheick Samoura opens the weekend ranked second in the PSAC in total blocks with 16 and third in blocks per game at 1.3. Samoura, who also provides The Rock with 5.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, Is 16th in program history for career rejections with 58, one away from tying Troy Miller (1991-94) for 15th place.
GET A LEAD, KEEP A LEAD
Slippery Rock is a perfect 10-0 in 2025-26 when holding a lead or being tied at halftime.
WIN THE GLASS, WIN THE GAME
Slippery Rock is a perfect 9-0 in 2025-26 when holding a positive rebounding margin. SRU enters the Bloomsburg game ranked fourth in the PSAC in rebounding (40.25) and fifth in rebounding margin (+5.9).
MORROW MAGIC
Since 2008-09, SRU is an outstanding 183-58 (.759) 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 third in home winning percentage and fourth in total home wins since 2008-09.
MAKING OPPONENTS WORK FOR 3'S
Few teams have done as well defending 3-pointers as The Rock has through the first half of the season. Entering Friday, Slippery Rock ranks sixth in the country, and second in the PSAC, in 3-point field goal percentage defense. Opponents are shooting a mere 25.5 percent from deep against SRU this season.
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE ONES
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 34th in the nation in free throw attempts per game (25.3), they also are 30th in free throws made per game (18.5) all the while ranking second in the PSAC in free throw percentage (.730).
Five of the seven Rock athletes to attempt at least 25 foul shots this season are shooting at least 71 percent from the line.
Dame Givner has made a team-high 47 foul shots (.855), while
Brady Mayo is one of Division II's most accurate free throw shooters at 87.8 percent (36-41). SRU's other top performers at the foul line include
Ike Herster (.851 / 40-47),
RJ Sledge (.750 / 24-32) and
Sheick Samoura (.720 / 18-25).
HEATING UP
Slippery Rock went a combined 15-for-34 (.441) from 3-point range during its eastern road swing at Shippensburg and Lock Haven. On the year, SRU ranks fifth in the PSAC in team 3-point shooting percentage (.361).
FORCING THE ISSUE
Through 12 games, SRU is scoring 16.9 points off turnovers per game, which if maintained through the end of the season would represent SRU's highest such average since 2018-19 (17.8).
ROUNDING OUT THE ROTATION
• Rounding out The Rock's rotation are reserve forwards
Mack Staunch (2.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg) and
Enire Bowens (0.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg).
• While being limited to just one game so far this season,
Maceo Austin (15.0 ppg, 5.0 spg, 4.0 apg, 3.0 rpg) is one of the top athletes in the PSAC when on the floor.
•
Braylon Littlejohn also had a promising start to his freshman season with 8.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals per contest in two games played.
HOW THE ROCK COMPARES (PSAC TEAM RANKINGS)
• Scoring: 8th (84.1)
• Points Allowed Per Game: 8th (75.4)
• Scoring Margin: 8th (+8.7)
• Field Goal %: 7th (.479)
• Opponent Field Goal %: 3rd (.418)
• 3pt-Field Goal %: 5th (.361)
• Opponent 3pt-Field Goal %: 2nd (.255)
• 3pt Made Per Game: 11th (6.6)
• Free Throw %: 2nd (.730)
• Free Throws Made Per Game: 3rd (18.5)
• Rebounds Per Game: 4th (40.2)
• Rebounding Margin: 5th (+5.9)
• Turnovers Per Game: 14th (16.6)
• Opponent Turnovers Per Game: 8th (14.8)
• Turnover Margin: 14th (-1.8)
• Steals Per Game: 9th (7.7)
• Blocks Per Game: 14th (2.5)
ROCK AMONG PSAC'S BEST (INDIVIDUAL LEADERS)
Brady Mayo
•
FT %: (1st / .878)
Sheick Samoura
•
Total Blocks: (2nd / 16)
•
Blocks Per Game: (3rd / 1.3)
Dame Givner
•
FT %: (4th / .855)
•
Scoring: (11th / 16.5)
•
Assists: (19th / 3.2)
•
Steals: (20th / 1.5)
•
FG %: (23rd / .435)
•
Assist-Turnover Ratio: (23rd / 1.0)
Ike Herster
•
FT %: (5th / .851)
Elijah Hill
•
Offensive Rebounding: (7th / 2.8)
•
Total Rebounding: (17th / 6.2)
Isaac James
•
Total Rebounding: (11th / 6.5)
•
Offensive Rebounding: (23rd / 2.1)
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-Ike Herster (70 Games, 2023-Active): 113
10-Amante Britt (115 Games, 2018-23): 112
Points By a Transfer at SRU (5-14)
5-Troy Miller (Cleveland State / 1991-94): 1,139
6-Ike Herster (Gannon / 2023-Active): 973
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. 7 (7:30 p.m.) at Clarion
Jan. 10 (3 p.m.) at Pitt-Johnstown
Jan. 14 (7:30 p.m.) vs. Indiana (Pa.)
Jan. 17 (3 p.m.) at Seton Hill
Jan. 24 (3 p.m.) vs. California (Pa.)
BLOOMSBURG PRIMER
•
Stats: Link
•
Roster: Link
•
Overall Record: 2-7
•
PSAC Record: 0-3
•
PSAC East Standings: t-6th
•
Home Record: 2-4
•
Away Record: 0-2
•
Neutral Site Record: 0-1
•
Streak: L4
•
Last 5 Games: 1-4
•
Head Coach: Chris Bess | Fourth season (14-77)
SCOUTING BLOOMSBURG
• The Huskies come to Morrow Field House at 2-7 overall and having lost four straight PSAC games prior to entering the break. Bloomsburg is yet to earn a win over a fellow Division II team as both of its triumphs to date have come against Penn State-Scranton (86-45) and Penn State-Hazleton (78-54).
• The guard duo of redshirt freshman Ries Naugle (10.2 ppg) and redshirt junior Courtney Davis II (9.1 ppg) shoulder the offensive load for the Huskies with Naugle shooting 39.1 percent (18-for-46) from 3-point range as the PSAC East's sixth most accurate shooter from long range. The duo has also combined for 20 of Bloomsburg's 60 steals.
• Offense has been problematic for the Huskies to date. Bloomsburg enters Morrow Field House ranked last in the PSAC in both scoring (65.3) and field goal percentage (.399) as well as 15th in turnovers per game (17.1).
• The strength of Bloomsburg's offense comes from long range where the Huskies rank eighth in the conference in 3-point accuracy at 34 percent while making 7.2 triples per game. 39.1 percent of Bloomsburg's field goal attempts come from 3-point range (the seventh highest percentage in the PSAC).
• Defensively, Bloomsburg ranks in the middle of the PSAC with 77.3 points per game allowed. The Huskies are second in the conference in blocks (4.3 bpg), which is not surprising as six members of their standard nine-man rotation are listed as being at least 6-foot-4.
EAST STROUDSBURG PRIMER
•
Stats: Link
•
Roster: Link
•
Overall Record: 7-3
•
PSAC Record: 1-3
•
PSAC East Standings: t-4th
•
Home Record: 3-3
•
Away Record: 3-0
•
Neutral Site Record: 1-0
•
Streak: L2
•
Last 5 Games: 2-3
•
Head Coach: Jeff Wilson | 23rd season (434-214)
SCOUTING EAST STROUDSBURG
• A perennial Atlantic Region contender, East Stroudsburg entered its Friday game at California (Pa.) with a healthy 7-3 overall record, but just 1-3 inside the PSAC with crossover losses to Seton Hill, Pitt-Johnstown and IUP as well as a win over Clarion.
• Not only do the Warriors rank 10th in the nation in scoring at 92.2 points per game, they also force the 12th most turnovers per game in the nation (18.7). Inside the PSAC, ESU is the conference's third-leading rebounding team (41.1) thanks in no small part to 16.6 offensive rebounds per game.
• Much like SRU, East Stroudsburg features a balanced attack with six players averaging at least 10.0 ppg led by freshman Adrian Brito's 13.4.
• Ethan Maynard (12.4), Ethan Millirons (11.6), Nasir Griffin (11.0) and Keni Williams (10.4) are all over 10.0 ppg as well in 10 games played. Kevin Coleman (13.0 ppg) is also a double-digit scorer in his four games played.
• Maynard (25-for-57) and Millirons (34-for-63) have combined to shoot 59-of-120 (.492) from 3-point range.
• East Stroudsburg leads the PSAC, and ranks fifth in the country, in assists after being credited with 19.9 per game over its first 10 contests of 2025-26.
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock opens the PSAC West portion of its schedule 7:30 p.m. Jan. 7 at Clarion. The Rock and Golden Eagles split the season series last year with each team winning on its home court.
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).
