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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team used a complete all-around team effort to earn a 73-63 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference victory over Edinboro Wednesday at Morrow Field House.
 
Wednesday's victory snapped a three-game slide for The Rock and improved their record to 16-11 overall and 9-10 inside the PSAC, while Edinboro dropped to 13-13 overall and 9-10 in league competition.
 
The win over the Fighting Scots combined with Clarion's loss against Gannon officially guaranteed The Rock of a spot in the PSAC Tournament. SRU will be making its ninth consecutive trip to the postseason while its 16 overall victories mark a three-year high for the program.
 
While SRU's spot in the PSAC Tournament is now secured, its seeding remains up in the air. Entering Saturday's regular season finale at California (Pa.) The Rock can earn the fifth seed with a victory over the Vulcans or be locked in the sixth seed with a loss.
 
Tasked with using a short-handed roster that saw just seven players play double-digit minutes, Slippery Rock saw significant contributions from everyone who saw the floor Wednesday.
 
Brady Mayo scored a season-high 22 points to go along with two steals. Among his 22 points was a perfect 5-for-5 showing at the foul line. The freshman guard has now converted 15 consecutive fouls hots over the course of the last four games.
 
Braylon Littlejohn made his first start of the season and turned in a 16-point, six-assist, three-rebound, two-steal performance. Littlejohn reached his season-high point total on 5-of-11 shooting overall, including one 3-pointer, as well as a 5-for-5 night at the foul line.
 
Kerwin Prince was the third Rock athlete to reach double figures at 11 points. Isaac James (9 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block) and Elijah Hill (9 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal) both nearly recorded double-doubles as well.
 
Off the bench, Mack Staunch provided SRU with invaluable minutes on the way to finishing with six points, one steal and a career-high 11 rebounds. Alex Griggs nearly matched his season-high with 19 minutes played as part of a five-rebound, one-steal effort and Enire Bowens gathered two rebounds in four minutes.
 
Collectively, Slippery Rock shot 41.3 percent (26-of-63) overall, 41.7 percent (5-of-12) from 3-point range and a solid 72.7 percent (16-of-22) at the foul line. SRU dominated the glass for a +13 (47-34) rebounding margin. Included in the 47 rebounds were 17 offensive boards that were turned into 18 second chance points.
 
Defensively, Slippery Rock limited Edinboro to a 34.4 percent (21-of-61) field goal percentage, including a 9-of-35 showing from 3-point territory. The Fighting Scots, which entered the contest leading the PSAC in turnovers per game, were forced into 14 miscues Wednesday – its third highest single-game total this season.
 
The Rock and Fighting Scots traded the lead back-and-forth five times as part of tight first half in which neither team led by more than seven points throughout the opening 20 minutes. Heading into the halftime break the score was a 31-31 deadlock.
 
Slippery Rock claimed the opening five points of the second half thanks to a Mayo 3-pointer and a James layup, giving SRU a lead it would not surrender. While Edinboro kept the game close for the majority of the second half, The Rock went on to build their lead out to as many as 13 points en route to the eventual 10-point win.
 
SRU led for nearly 30 minutes (28:17) as it earned a season-split with Edinboro. Slippery Rock has now lost to Edinboro at Morrow Field House just two times in the last decade (9-2). Head coach Ian Grady is 12-2 against the Fighting Scots over his career.  
 
Edinboro was led by Evan Berger, who had 16 points, seven rebounds, four steals and one block.
 
Slippery Rock heads to California (Pa.) Saturday in search of its first win at the Convocation Center since 2022. Opening tip is set for 3 p.m.
 
 




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