SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – IUP men's basketball was unable to match Slippery Rock's strong second half, falling 75-64 Wednesday evening inside Morrow Field House.
 
IUP dropped to 9-9 overall and 5-6 in the PSAC, while Slippery Rock improved to 11-9 overall and 7-5 in the conference. 
 
Damir Brooks recorded a double-double with 12 rebounds and 13 points. Kymani Merraro and Christian Moore each contributed 15 points, while Moore and Sarp Furtun both tallied two steals.
 
The Crimson Hawks shot .429 in the first half but struggled in the second, shooting just .265. Despite holding the lead at halftime, IUP was unable to counter Slippery Rock's 44-point second half.
 
A layup from Brooks and a three-pointer from Merraro put the Hawks ahead 5-0. Brooks and Moore each added two baskets before Furtun sank a three-pointer at 12:15, 16-13. Luke Triggs and Ian Herring scored their first baskets of the night, extending IUP's lead to nine points, 22-13. Slippery Rock responded with back-to-back three-pointers that put them within three. Herring made his second three-pointer of the night at 3:38. IUP closed out the first half with a five-point advantage. 
 
Slippery Rock opened the second half with consecutive three-pointers. Merraro's free throw tied up the score again at 39 a piece. IUP's final lead came at the 12:56 mark on Brook's free throw. Slippery Rock went on a 12-2 run before Moore snapped the scoring drought with a three-pointer at 7:43, trailing by just three points. Tyler Grove scored IUP's final points with a layup at the two-minute mark, but Slippery Rock sealed the game with free throws as time ran out.

Up Next 
IUP returns home to take on the Clarion Golden Eagles, Saturday, January 25 for a 3:00 p.m. tipoff inside the KCAC.

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