The Rocket

Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Chelsey Rovesti Senior guard Michael Evans Jr. launches a shot from the perimeter against Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Evans was one-for-four from beyond the arc against California University of Pennsylvania on Wednesday.

Media Credit: Chelsey Rovesti Junior forward Maron Brown snags a rebound last Saturday against Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Brown grabbed six rebounds and scored 14 points against California University of Pennsylvania Wednesday night.

After starting the season 10-0, SRU men's basketball hit a speed bump at the beginning of conference play, losing seven of its last 10 games.

The Rock added two to its loss column in the last week, losing to California University of Pennsylvania, 79-65, and No. 9 Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 83-74.

SRU took on the then 12-9 Vulcans at Cal (13-9, 1-6) Wednesday. Cal took a 15-point lead into the locker room at the half and never gave up that lead in the second half.

Senior guard Michael Evans Jr. said that Cal played harder than the Rock did in the game.

"We just got outplayed," Evans said. "The other team wanted it more than we did."

Senior guard Jabril Bailey and junior forward Maron Brown again led the Rock (13-7, 2-5) in scoring with 14 points each. Senior guard Cecil Brown chipped in 10 points for SRU. Junior forward Andrew Young scored a game-high 23 points for Cal.

The Vulcans took the first lead of the game until Brown hit a 3-pointer with 16:54 left in the half to give SRU it's only lead.

The Rock was down by 16 at the 5:08 mark before going on an 8-2 run to tighten the score to 31-21.

But that was as close as SRU would come because Cal led by at least 11 for the remainder of the game.

The Rock shot 38 percent (24-for-64) from the field and 29 percent (8-for-28) from 3-point range for the game, but only shot 27 percent (8-for-30) and 25 percent (3-for-12) in the first half.

SRU was also out-rebounded in the game, 41-36.

Evans said the Rock's shooting troubles have been caused by forced shots.

"When our (shooting) percentages were higher, we were moving the ball around more and taking open shots, not forcing the shots," Evans said.

The loss to Cal leaves the Gren and White tied with Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania for fifth place in the PSAC-West with seven divisional games left in the season.

On Saturday, the Green and White played host to No. 9 IUP (18-1, 7-0) in front of a crowded Morrow Field House. The Rock played right along with the nationally ranked team, but couldn't hold on in the end.

Head coach Kevin Reynolds said that last year's wins over IUP were old news.

"It's water under the bridge," he said. "They're a different team this year, so it's not any extra motivation."

Four SRU players scored in double digits, two over 20. Bailey put up a game-high 26 points for the Rock while Brown added 20. Senior guard Maurice Douglas scored 12 points and Cecil contributed 11 more.

IUP was led by junior forward Darryl Webb with 22 points.

The Crimson Hawks took an early 6-0 lead with 16:29 left in the first half, but the Rock then started an 8-0 run, taking its first lead of the game.

SRU held it until the 2:52 mark in the half when IUP stole the lead for the rest of the game. Indiana led by five at the half, 35-30, and shot 34 percent (11-for-32) from the field in the first half while SRU shot 31 percent (11-for-36).

IUP took the first double-digit lead of the game with 19:05 left in the game, 40-30. SRU climbed to within five with 12:43 left and then again at the 10:47 mark.

The Crimson Hawks held an 11-point advantage, 67-56, with seven minutes left, but SRU didn't give up the game easily.

Reynolds said that before and after the half were the defining moments of the game. ?

"The last two minutes of the first half and the first two minutes of the second half separated the game," he said.

The Rock pulled within four with three minutes left after two of Brown's free throws.

After Indiana claimed an eight-point lead with 2:32 left, SRU came back again within four with 1:14 left in the game.

But the Rock couldn't hold onto a rebound after a missed free throw with 37 seconds left, and IUP made five free throws to end the game up by nine, 83-74.

Reynolds said the missed rebound at the end of the game was crucial.

"We couldn't get the rebound," he said. "That's the game. There was 36.5 seconds left and we got the miss we needed."

SRU improved its shooting in the second half and shot 39 percent (26-for-67) from the field and 31 percent (10-for-32) from behind the arc. IUP shot 43 percent (29-for-68) from the field and 30 percent (6-for-20) from long range.

The Rock was out rebounded 43-40, but had one more block than the Crimson Hawks.

The Rock will travel to Mercyhurst College (14-6, 4-3) tomorrow to face the Lakers at 3 p.m. and then to Gannon University of Pennsylvania (9-10, 4-3) Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. game.

Evans said SRU has been making too many mistakes, but the Rock still expects to win.

"We need to figure out what the real problem is," Evans said. "We've been pounding out mistakes as a team, but we still expect to win."

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools