SRU men's basketball team beats PSU Wilkes-Barre 78-63

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. -- Junior forward Devin Taylor (New Castle/New Castle HS/LaRoche College) scored 20 points and senior forward Maron Brown (Salisbury, Md./Wicomico HS/Cecil College) added 20 points and 10 rebounds Sunday afternoon to lead the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team to a 78-63 win over hosting Penn State Wilkes-Barre in non-conference action.

Senior guard Jabril Bailey (New Castle, Dela./Delcastle HS/Campbell University) added 13 points and seven rebounds for The Rock, who improved their season record to 5-3 heading into a 10-day holiday break.

SRU, which concluded a five-game road trip Sunday, is idle until Dec. 29, when it will host Ohio University Eastern in a 3 p.m. game in Morrow Field House.

PSUW-B (8-5) rode a 52% (14-27) shooting effort from the floor in the opening 20 minutes of action to a 39-38 edge on the scoreboard at halftime but could not maintain that pace. The Lions shot 32% (11-34) in the final half of action.

SRU, which shot a very respectable 46.4% (13-28) in the opening half, outscored the hosts by a 40-24 margin in the final 20 minutes to end the game with a 41% (25-61) efficiency. The Lions shot 42% (8-19) from 3-point range and 71% (5-7) from the foul line.

The Rock shot 52% (15-29) from the field in the final 20 minutes and finished the game with a 49% (28-57) efficiency. SRU was a frigid 17% (2-12) from 3-point range and made 20 of 25 (80%) free throws.

Behind the lead of Brown and Bailey, SRU enjoyed a 37-24 rebounding advantage. The Rock also took better care of the basketball than the Lions, who had nine turnovers compared to only six for the guests.

SRU also recorded 21 assists on 28 field goals.

The Rock's Dec. 29 vs. Ohio University Eastern will be the first of two Green and White home games in as many days. SRU entertains neighboring Grove City College in a 7 p.m. game Dec. 30.