SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team begins the penultimate week of the 2025-26 regular season with a road game at fifth-ranked Gannon University 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
 
TICKETS
Tickets for Wednesday's game may be purchased in advance of Wednesday's game HERE.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Video and in-game statistics are being provided free of charge by the Gannon media relations office at the below links.
 
GAME 25 DETAILS
Opponent: Gannon University
Date: Wednesday – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Erie, Pennsylvania
Venue: Highmark Events Center
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
Tickets: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter/X (@Rock_Athletics)
 
SERIES HISTORY vs. GANNON
Overall: GU leads 38-21
Current Streak: GU W5
At Gannon: GU leads 23-8
First Meeting: Jan. 18, 1949 (SRU won 57-48)
Last Meeting: Jan. 31, 2026 (GU won 96-65)
Most Points, SRU: 95 - Jan. 21, 1995
Most Points, GU: 97 - Dec. 12, 1984
Largest Victory, SRU: 18 (92-74, Dec. 1, 1982)
Largest Victory, GU: 31 (96-65, Jan. 31, 2026)
SRU coach Ian Grady vs. Gannon: 5-8
Gannon coach Easton Bazzoli vs. SRU: 3-0
 
Gannon has won its last five games against The Rock to improve its record in the series, which started in 1949, to 38-21. SRU needs a victory Wednesday to avoid a third consecutive season-sweep by the Golden Knights.
 
LAST MEETING (BOX SCORE)
Slippery Rock opened its three-game homestand with a 96-65 loss to seventh-ranked Gannon Jan. 31 at Morrow Field House.
 
Slippery Rock placed three athletes in double figures led by Dame Givner, who scored a team-high 17 points to go with two steals. Isaac James collected his first double-double of the year following a 10-point, 12-rebounds, four-assist effort. Sheick Samoura chipped in 11 points while making one steal.
 
The Rock and Golden Knights traded baskets early one, but a 22-5 Gannon run in the middle stages of the first half gave GU an 18-point lead it would never come close to relinquishing.
 
Collectively The Rock shot 42.9 percent (27-of-63) from the field overall despite making just 2-of-17 3-point attempts (.118). SRU also converted 9-of-12 free throw attempts (.750).
 
Gannon closed the win shooting 46.6 percent (34-of-73) from the field overall, 37 percent (10-of-27) from 3-point range and 62.1 percent (18-of-29) at the foul line. GU scored 28 points off 27 Rock turnovers. The Golden Knights, which held a +5 rebounding margin (43-38) turned 17 offensive rebounds into 17 second chance points.
 
RECORDS
Slippery Rock opens the week at 15-9 overall and 8-8 in the PSAC while the nationally ranked Golden Knights welcome The Rock at 22-2 overall and 15-1 in the PSAC.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock played well for nearly all 40 minutes, but lost an 88-79 decision at IUP. Gannon picked up its ninth straight win following an 85-73 triumph at Seton Hill.

PSAC WEST STANDINGS UPDATE
Seven of the 12 spots in the PSAC Tournament have been locked up entering Wednesday's scheduled games.
 
• The top six teams in both the Western Division and Eastern Division standings at the end of the regular season qualify for the PSAC Tournament. The first and second seeds in the standings earn first-round byes and a home game in the quarterfinal round while the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds are guaranteed home games in the first round.
 
• Three of the six tournament bids out of the PSAC West are accounted for as Gannon (15-1), California (14-2) and IUP (13-3) are all locked in and will be the top three seeds in the division with only the order of seeding to be decided. 
 
• The battle for the final three PSAC Tournament bids out of the Western Division is still wide open as just three games in the standings separate five teams vying for the spots with four games to play in the regular season.
 
• Slippery Rock and Edinboro enter Wednesday tied for fourth in the PSAC West standings with 8-8 league records. Seton Hill sits in sixth place at 7-9.
 
• Clarion (6-10) and Pitt-Johnstown (5-11) round out the standings in seventh and eighth place, respectively.   
 
• The final three open tournament bids in the PSAC West will not be decided Wednesday regardless of outcomes from around the conference.
 
• Slippery Rock has qualified for the PSAC Tournament in eight of the last nine years. SRU has hosted opening-round tournament games in each of the last two years.
 
• Five of the six tournament qualifiers in the Eastern Division have all but been decided as West Chester, Millersville, Shepherd and East Stroudsburg have officially clinched postseason berths already with Shippensburg (7-11) comfortably positioned fifth. The sixth spot remains up for grabs, likely to be decided by Lock Haven (5-12) and Bloomsburg (4-13).  

FACULTY & STAFF APPRECIATION NIGHT SET FOR FEB. 25
The Slippery Rock athletic department has announced plans to host a Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night as part of its Feb. 25 basketball doubleheader against Edinboro at Morrow Field House. All current faculty and staff members will be admitted free with one guest and receive a voucher for free snacks at the game.
 
In addition to free admission and snacks, faculty and staff in attendance will be recognized throughout the night. Both The Rock's men's and women's teams will also have a yet to be decided faculty or staff member serving as honorary coaches during the games.
 
Faculty and staff planning to attend are asked to RSVP HERE. Deadline to RSVP is 5 p.m. Feb. 18.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• Overall Record: 15-9
• PSAC Record: 8-8
• PSAC West Standings: t-4th
• Home Record: 10-4
• Away Record: 5-5
• Streak: L1
• Last 5 Games: 2-3
• Head Coach: Ian Grady | Eighth season (114-85)
 
IUP RECAP (BOX SCORE)
Slippery Rock lost a PSAC West game on the road to Indiana University (Pa.), 88-79, Feb. 14.
 
The game was close throughout, but a five-minute scoring drought in the middle stages of the second half allowed Indiana to widen its lead to 14 points (64-50) with 7:42 to play.
 
While The Rock battled back and trimmed Indiana's edge down to six points on five separate occasions over the game's final minutes it was unable to make a lasting push as Indiana converted 11 foul shots over the final 97 seconds en route to the nine-point win.
 
Four of The Rock's five starters finished in double figures Saturday, led by Kerwin Prince's 23-point, seven-rebound, one-steal performance. Prince connected on 9-of-12 field goal attempts, including his first 3-pointer of the season, to go with four successful foul shots.
 
Dame Givner registered the first double-double of his collegiate career via 18 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and two assists. Fellow freshman guard RJ Sledge compiled 11 points, three assists, two steals, two rebounds and one block. Isaac James chipped in 10 points and six rebounds.
 
Collectively, Slippery Rock shot 48.3 percent (28-of-58) from the field overall, but went just 5-for-17 (.294) from 3-point range and 18-for-26 (.692) at the foul line.
 
GOING FOR A TOP 5 WIN
A victory by The Rock over the Golden Knights would give SRU the program's third win over a top five team in program history. Previously, Slippery Rock defeated No. 3 IUP (74-69) in 2019 and fourth-ranked Gannon (82-72) in 2009. Both of those wins occurred at Morrow Field House.
 
GETTING A RANKED ROAD WIN
Slippery Rock has gone on the road to beat ranked teams three times in program history, with the most recent being an 81-70 victory at No. 17 Mercyhurst in 2011. The Rock nearly achieved the feat earlier in the year as part of a close 93-89 loss at then fifth-ranked Fairmont State.

THE ROCK ROTATION
• Kerwin Prince has scored 23 or more points in two of his last three games and is now averaging 11.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 62.9 percent from the field overall.
 
• Prince, who has logged two double-doubles in his last three outings, reached the games played threshold required by the PSAC to qualify for statistical rankings with his 23-point, seven-rebound showing against IUP. As such, he now officially leads the PSAC in field goal percentage while ranking fifth in offensive rebounding (3.2) and seventh in total rebounding.
 
• Freshman standout Dame Givner is The Rock's leader in scoring (16.0 ppg), assists (3.1 apg), steals (1.5 spg) and minutes played (30.1 mpg) while shooting 44.3 percent overall, 37.5 percent from distance and 78.8 percent at the foul line. Givner, who logged his first collegiate double-double at IUP (18 points / 11 rebounds) also leads all PSAC West rookies in rebounding (4.2 rpg).
 
• Only Givner has started more games than forward Isaac James, who's tallied 23 starts in his lone season at The Rock on the way to posting per contest averages of 10.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 49.1 percent from the field overall and 70.3 percent at the foul line.
 
• James, who had a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double against Gannon earlier in the year, has recorded four consecutive double-digit scoring performances.
 
• The true freshmen duo of Brady Mayo and RJ Sledge have rounded out The Rock's starting lineup of late.
 
• Mayo has scored at least 12 points in five of SRU's last seven games to increase his scoring average on the year to 10.1 ppg. He is also third for SRU in teals. A near automatic free throw shooter (.843 on the year), Mayo has converted 16 of his last 20 foul shot attempts.
 
• Sledge provides The Rock with 7.7 points, 2.9 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. His 1.3 assist-turnover ratio this season ranks 17th inside the PSAC.
 
• Slippery Rock's top bench contributors of late have consisted of Sheick Samoura (7.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 22 blocks, 42.0 FG%)), Braylon Littlejohn (4.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.3 apg, 51.4 FG%) and Mack Staunch (1.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 64 FG%)).
 
CLEARING 15
Already assured of finishing the year with a winning record for the 16th time in the last 17 completed seasons as a program - including each of the last seven years under head coach Ian Grady - Slippery Rock needs one more win this year to give The Rock 16 victories, which would represent the fourth-highest win total for SRU under Grady.
 
Wins by SRU under Ian Grady
1. 19 (2018-19)
t2. 17 (2021-22)
t2. 17 (2022-23)
4. 16 (2023-24)
t5. 15 (2025-26)
t5. 15 (2019-20)
t5. 15 (2024-25)
 
GET A LEAD, KEEP A LEAD
Slippery Rock is a perfect 15-0 in 2025-26 when holding a lead or being tied at halftime, but 0-9 when trailing after 20 minutes.
 
MAKING THE MOST OF A SECOND CHANCE
Slippery Rock has logged double-digit second chance point totals in 19 of 24 games this season. SRU is currently averaging 13.6 second chance points per game this season, well up from its 2024-25 average of 11.7. SRU is 12-4 when earning 11 or more second chance points in a game, but just 3-5 when closing a contest with 10 or less.
 
CAPITALIZING ON MISTAKES
Through 24 games, SRU is scoring 15.3 points off turnovers per game, which if maintained through the end of the season would represent the fourth highest such average inside the program over the last 12 years. Gannon averages 14.4 turnovers per game on the year, which ranks in the middle of the PSAC. SRU had 14 points on 15 Gannon turnovers in the first meeting of the season.   
 
KEEP IT UNDER 80
Slippery Rock is a perfect 14-0 when holding opponents to under 80 points, but just 1-9 in high-scoring (80+) contests. To earn a win Wednesday, SRU will very likely have to find a way to win a high-scoring game as GU has been held under 80 points just twice this year.
 
HOW THE ROCK COMPARES (PSAC TEAM RANKINGS)
• Scoring: 10th (79.6)
• Points Allowed Per Game: 11th (77.3)
• Scoring Margin: 10th (+2.3)
• Field Goal %: 8th (.470)
• Opponent Field Goal %: 5th (.435)
• 3pt-Field Goal %: 10th (.333)
• Opponent 3pt-Field Goal %: 2nd (.287)
• 3pt Made Per Game: 13th (6.3)
• Free Throw %: 10th (.698)
• Free Throws Made Per Game: 5th (15.3)
• Rebounds Per Game: 3rd (39.3)
• Rebounding Margin: 4th (+4.5)
• Turnovers Per Game: 15th (16.0)
• Opponent Turnovers Per Game: 8th (13.7)
• Turnover Margin: 12th (-2.3)
• Steals Per Game: 9th (8.2)
• Blocks Per Game: 16th (1.9)
 
ROCK AMONG PSAC'S BEST (INDIVIDUAL LEADERS)
Kerwin Prince
• FG %: (1st / .629)
• Offensive Rebounding: (5th / 3.2)
• Total Rebounding: (7th / 8.2)
 
Dame Givner
• FT %: (9th / .788)
• Scoring: (13th / 16.0)
• 3PT %: (14th / .375)
• FG %: (18th / .443)
• Steals: (17th / 1.5)
• Assists: (22nd / 3.1)
• Assist-Turnover Ratio: (23rd / 1.0)
 
 Sheick Samoura
• Blocks Per Game: (9th / 1.0)
• Total Blocks: (11th / 22)
 
Isaac James
• Total Rebounding: (12th / 7.0)
• Offensive Rebounding: (12th / 2.2)
 
RJ Sledge
• Assist-Turnover Ratio: (17th / 1.3)
• Assists: (23rd / 2.9)
 
SINGLE-GAME FRESHMEN SCORING AT SRU
SRU'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.
 
This year's roster has accounted for eight of the 17 20-point games scored by a freshman at The Rock since the 2001-02 season (the furthest back game-by-game statistics are available)
 
Dame Givner has reached the 20-point threshold six times, with Elijah Hill and RJ Sledge notching one each. The most points scored by a freshman at The Rock since 2001-02 was Givner's 39 at Lock Haven.
 
Givner's 39 points vs. Lock Haven is the best single-game total by a freshman in DII this year and the 11th best by a rookie in the entire NCAA.
 
Single-Game Scoring by SRU Freshmen (Since 2001-02)
1. Dame Givner: 39 at Lock Haven (2025-26)
2. Jamar Scales: 34 vs. California (2005-06)
t3. Dame Givner: 28 at Pitt-Johnstown (2025-26)
t3. Jamar Scales: 28 vs. Kutztown (2005-06)
5. Matt Hale: 27 vs. Malone (2005-06)
6. RJ Sledge: 26 vs. Glenville State (2025-26)
7. Eroll Robinson: 25 vs. Ashland (2005-06)
t8. Dame Givner: 24 vs. Wheeling (2025-26)
t8. Dame Givner: 24 at Clarion (2025-26)
10. Eroll Robinson: 23 vs. Lincoln Memorial (2005-06)
t11. Dame Givner: 22 vs. Mansfield (2025-26)
t11. Jamar Scales: 22 vs. Lock Haven (2005-06)
t13. Dame Givner: 21 vs. Fairmont State (2025-26)
t13. Dylan Ahearn: 21 vs. Edinboro (2021-22)
t15. Elijah Hill: 20 vs. WV Wesleyan (2025-26)
t15. Chaq Pratt: 20 vs. Edinboro (2011-12)
t15. Eroll Robinson: 20 vs. Cheyney (2005-06)
 
RECORD WATCH
Points By a Freshman at SRU
1. Myron Brown (1987-88): 516
2. Ian Folmar (1996-97): 418
3. Dame Givner (2025-26): 384
4. Herm Willis (1983-84): 345
5. Jamar Scales (2005-06): 334
--------
8. Dennis Greene (1991-92): 281
9. Jomo Goings (2022-23 R-Fr.): 266
10. Kevin Jones (1987-88): 257
t11. Brady Mayo (2025-26): 242
t11. C. Russell (1987-88): 242
 
Points By a Transfer at SRU (5-12)
4-Devin Taylor (LaRoche / 2010-13): 1,143
5-Troy Miller (Cleveland State / 1991-94): 1,139
6-Ike Herster (Gannon / 2023-Active): 995
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
t12-Maceo Austin (Duquesne / 2023-Active): 807
t12-Rob Wilson (Ohio Valley Business College / 1989-91): 807
 
Made 3-Pointers (3-7)
3-Mark Metzka (100 Games, 1991-95): 182
4-William Johnson (73 Games, 2002-05): 139
5-Michael Evans Jr. (52 Games, 2008-10): 130
6-Jared Armstrong (50 Games, 2018-20): 124
7-Ike Herster (72 Games, 2023-Active): 116
 
Blocks (10-14)
t10-Devin Taylor (86 Games, 2010-13): 73
t10-Luiz Santos (58 Games, 2011-13): 73
12-James Richardson (52 Games, 1998-00): 69
13-Sheick Samoura (76 Games, 2023-Active): 64
14-Jamal Gatali (54 Games, 2014-16): 62
 
Steals (12-17)
12-Joe Vines (111 Games, 2005-11): 108
13-Louie Moore (77 Games, 1998-00, 01-03): 106
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 (48 Games, 2023-Active): 96
 
REMAINING REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
Feb. 18 (7:30 p.m.) at Gannon
Feb. 21 (3 p.m.) vs. Seton Hill
Feb. 25 (7:30 p.m.) vs. Edinboro
Feb. 28 (3 p.m.) at California (Pa.)
 
HERSTER CLOSING IN ON SCORING MILESTONE
Ike Herster needs to score five points to become the 26th athlete in program history to score 1,000 points in a Rock uniform.
 
While Herster is nearing SRU 1,000-point milestone, he's already scored 1,366 points in the totality of his college career between his time at SRU and Gannon.
 
His 995 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 seventh in program history in career 3-pointers with 116 - seven away from passing Jared Armstrong (2018-20) for sixth place.
 
GANNON PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• NABC Top 25: No. 5
• Overall Record: 22-2
• PSAC Record: 15-1
• PSAC West Standings: 1st
• Home Record: 12-0
• Away Record: 9-1
• Neutral Site Record: 1-1
• Streak: W9
• Last 5 Games: 5-0
• Head Coach: Easton Bazzoli | Second season (49-9)
 
LAAST 5 GAMES
vs. Clarion: W (91-73)
at Slippery Rock: W (96-65)
vs. California: W (115-87)
vs. Edinboro: W (111-73)
at Seton Hill: W (85-73)
 
GOLDEN KNIGHT LEADERS (Per Game)
SCORING: Pace Prosser (17.3), Lucas Morgan (13.5)
FG%: L. Morgan (.536 / 103-192)
3PT%: Mackenzie Morgan (.351 / 47-134)
ASSISTS: Prosser (4.8)
REBOUNDS: L. Morgan (5.6)
STEALS: Prosser (2.1)
BLOCKS: Victor Desmond (1.0)
 
HOW GANNON COMPARES (PSAC TEAM RANKINGS)
• Scoring: 1st (95.1)
• Points Allowed Per Game: 5th (73.8)
• Scoring Margin: 1st (+21.3)
• Field Goal %: 12th (.453)
• Opponent Field Goal %: 6th (.436)
• 3pt-Field Goal %: 16th (.303)
• Opponent 3pt-Field Goal %: 1st (.283)
• 3pt Made Per Game: 3rd (9.3)
• Free Throw %: 2nd (.735)
• Free Throws Made Per Game: 1st (18.4)
• Rebounds Per Game: 1st (43.3)
• Rebounding Margin: 2nd (+6.6)
• Turnovers Per Game: 10th (14.4)
• Opponent Turnovers Per Game: 1st (23.9)
• Turnover Margin: 1st (+9.5)
• Steals Per Game: 1st (13.2)
• Blocks Per Game: 6th (3.3)
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock returns home to host Seton Hill 3 p.m. Saturday at Morrow Field House on Senior Day. SRU will look to avenge a loss at Seton Hill earlier in the year and earn a split of the season series.
 
           

 
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