For the second, and last, time of the regular season, the Slippery Rock University men’s basketball team took on school rival Indiana University (Pa.).
The Rock, victorious over the nationally ranked Crimson Hawks at home on Jan. 12, lost redshirt junior Micah Till to injury during the first half of play and were defeated with a final score of 77-48.
The loss drops the Green and White to 15-7 overall and 12-3 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), while the Crimson Hawks jump to 20-2 (13-2) and take possession of first place in the PSAC-West.
The Rock jumped out to an early lead early in the first half, but the offense quickly faded away as the Crimson Hawks took a 41-28 lead going into halftime. The second half proved to be much of the same as Slippery Rock could not seem to get anything done against IUP.
Till, despite missing the entire second half of play, led The Rock offensively with 10 points, shooting three for eight from the field, and collected four rebounds. He currently leads the entire PSAC in rebounds with 219.
Redshirt senior Vinny Lasley was the Green and White’s second-leading scorer with nine points (four for six from the field) and forced a steal and a turnover. Senior John Warren II recorded eight points, five rebounds and had four steals.
Despite the loss, The Rock still retains second place in the PSAC-West and are guaranteed a spot in the PSAC playoffs that begin next month.
The Rock will look to return to their winning ways on Saturday as they close out a two-game road trip against Seton Hill University (7-14/5-10).
Tip-off for Saturday’s game is slated for 3 p.m. at the Katherine Mabis McKenna Center in Greensburg, Pa.
