The Rocket

Issue date: 11/1/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jeremy Saylor Jade Burka drives to the basket in SRU's 75-64 loss to the University of Pittsburgh Sunday afternoon.

With 1:29 remaining, Slippery Rock men's basketball coach Kevin Reynolds took a timeout. Not because he was angry at his team, but because Michael Evans Jr.'s 3-point shot had cut the University of Pittsburgh's lead to 71-64.

SRU still had an opportunity to win the game. The Rock couldn't mount a comeback as Pitt added two baskets to earn a 75-64 victory.

In a game that featured six lead changes and three ties, the Rock didn't falter even after falling behind by 18 with 10:06 remaining in the game.

SRU stayed in the game by hitting 3-point shots, including six by Jabril Bailey, who was making his Rock debut. The Rock made 15 3-point shots.

The Rock took 75 shots, 46 were from behind the arc. The 46 3-point shots were the most attempted by any team in the history of the Peterson Events Center. The record will not count because it was an exhibition game.

Reynolds said the team didn't have a set plan for playing Pitt.

"We averaged in the 80s [shots] last year," Reynolds said. "We normally wouldn't shoot as many threes, but with the significant height difference, we felt it was necessary."

McDonald's All-American freshman Dante Taylor was the sparkplug for the Panther's offense. Taylor scored 27 points off the bench, including shooting 81 percent (9 of 11) from the free-throw stripe.

Jade Burka said neither the atmosphere nor Taylor intimidated him.

"This was just another game," Burka said. "I came here to win. We came in here to work on our game and I expected more out of myself tonight."

SRU came out in the first half and were burying treys. SRU led the game for much of the first 12 minutes and at one point held an eight point lead, 23-15 with 9:03 remaining in the first half.

Despite the height advantage Pitt had, the Rock out rebounded the Panthers 24-17 in the first half. Pitt went ahead for good with 2:40 remaining in the first half when Dwight Miller hit a 3-point shot.

The rebounding was something that Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon wanted to address.

Continued...

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