EDINBORO, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team erased an 11-point deficit with six minutes to play in regulation to force overtime, but couldn't quite complete its comeback bid in an 82-75 loss to Edinboro Wednesday at McComb Fieldhouse.
 
Slippery Rock's record now stands at 13-7 overall and 6-6 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference competition. The host Fighting Scots improve to 10-9 overall and 6-6 inside the PSAC following the win.
 
SRU once again had to play from behind for most of a game as Edinboro built a 14-point advantage of 32-18 through the opening 15 minutes of the first half before The Rock shaved nine points off the margin with a strong finish that made it a 40-35 contest heading into the break.
 
Slippery Rock played even with Edinboro for the majority of the second half, but a quick 6-0 spurt by the Fighting Scots entering the waning moments of the game ballooned the host's lead back up to double digits at 65-54 with 5:51 to play in regulation.
 
Undeterred by the seemingly sizable deficit, The Rock again closed a half strong, this time with commanding 14-3 run that was capped off by a gritty Kerwin Prince basket through contact inside to tie the game at 68-68 with 14 seconds to play. Coming out of a timeout, a game-winning 3-point attempt by Edinboro's Evan Berger missed and the game headed into overtime.
 
Slippery Rock's overtime-forcing run was spearheaded by Prince, who accounted for 10 points in the final five minutes with Brady Mayo and RJ Sledge each adding two points as well.
 
The opening minute of overtime saw The Rock and Fighting Scots trade baskets. Prince gave SRU its first lead of the game with a layup to begin OT followed by a successful jumper from Berger and a go-ahead bucket by Dame Givner to once again position SRU with a two-point edge at 72-70 and 3:10 to play in the extra period.
 
However, Slippery Rock's comeback hopes ultimately ended there as Prince was then assessed fouls on back-to-back possessions, with the second being his fifth of the game, as part of a decisive 7-0 Edinboro run.
 
While SRU continued to stay within reach of Edinboro thanks to a 3-pointer by Givner, which pulled The Rock back to within one possession at 77-75 with 58 seconds showing on the clock, he was also charged with a fifth and disqualifying foul. Edinboro made five straight free throws down the stretch to secure the seven-point win.
 
Mayo paced The Rock by going for a season-high 18 points. Mayo, who also grabbed four rebounds and made one steal, has now scored at least 12 points in three consecutive games.
 
Prince and Givner each joined Mayo with double-digit scoring performances prior to fouling out at 16 and 15 points, respectively. Prince also pulled down seven rebounds, passed out three assists and made one steal. Givner collected six rebounds in addition to three assists and one steal of his own.
 
Sledge and Sheick Samoura chipped in eight points apiece with Sledge compiling five rebounds, three assists and two steals and Samoura hauling in six rebounds off the bench. Rounding out The Rock's top performers were Isaac James (4 points, 7 rebounds) and Braylon Littlejohn (6 points, 4 rebounds).
 
Slippery Rock closed the night shooting 44.4 percent (28-of-63) from the field overall and 35.7 percent (5-of-14) from 3-point range, but just 66.7 percent (14-of-21) at the foul line.
 
Edinboro shot 41.8 percent (28-of-67) from the field overall and 34.6 percent (9-of-26) from distance while converting 17-of-22 (.773) free throw attempts. The Fighting Scots held a +4 (43-39) rebounding margin while scoring 20 points off 12 Rock turnovers.
 
Mekhi Reynolds provided Edinboro with a 21-point, six-assist, four-rebound performance in the win.
 
Slippery Rock opens its three-game homestand 3 p.m. Saturday against No. 7 Gannon University at Morrow Field House.
 



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