Slippery Rock Survives Late Scare Against Clarion
In an exciting matchup, Slippery Rock University’s men’s basketball team edged out Clarion with an 80-78 victory. The game ended with a clutch 3-pointer from Brady Mayo just 4.7 seconds before the final buzzer. This win was a crucial one for Slippery Rock, marking their second victory in a row and bringing their overall record to 15-8. They now stand in fourth place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West standings.
Slippery Rock started strong, leading by 21 points in the second half. However, Clarion made a late push, erasing the deficit and briefly taking the lead. With less than 20 seconds remaining, Aydan Cunningham put Clarion ahead 78-77 with free throws. But Mayo’s timely shot secured the win for The Rock.
Mayo’s performance stood out: he scored 15 points and grabbed four steals. His consistent scoring has made a difference lately, with him reaching double digits in five of the last six games. Kerwin Prince also excelled, achieving a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
In terms of team stats, Slippery Rock shot impressively, with a field goal percentage of 55.4%. They also dominated rebounding with a 40-28 margin, allowing them significant second-chance points. Despite committing more turnovers than Clarion, they capitalized on the Golden Eagles’ mistakes to score 14 points off turnovers.
This season, the top six teams in both the Western and Eastern Divisions will qualify for the PSAC Tournament. The leading teams earn valuable first-round byes. With five games left, Slippery Rock is in a good position to secure their place in the postseason.
Looking ahead, Slippery Rock will face Indiana University (Pa.) next. This matchup will be crucial, especially after their earlier loss to IUP at home.
As basketball continues to gain popularity, Slippery Rock’s recent performance underscores the excitement of college sports and the competitive spirit driving teams as they near the end of the season.
For more updates, follow the official Slippery Rock Athletics accounts on social media.
For further statistics and insights into NCAA basketball trends, check out the NCAA statistics page here.
