SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Saraj Ali scored a career-high 20 points, but the Mansfield University men's basketball team (2-5, 1-2 PSAC) fell on the road, 78-71, at Slippery Rock University (8-1, 1-1) in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern-Western Division crossover action on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 18.
 
S. Ali added 11 rebounds to notch the first double-double of his career, while finishing 8-of-17 from the floor. Idris Ali finished second on the team in scoring, netting 17 points, while Gabe Perez poured in 12 points and knocked down three shots from behind the arch. Scott Woodring was dominate on the class, pulling in a game-high 14 rebounds to go with nine points. Michael Dickson added nine points to lead the second unit in scoring.
 
Trailing 41-37 heading out of the break, the Mounties dug a 14-point deficit through the opening five minutes of the second half. A trifecta by Wooding and a 3-point play the old fashioned way by I. Ali cut the SRU lead to eight, 56-48 with 13:31 to go, but Slippery Rock buried a triple on the next possession to regain a double-digit lead.
 
The Mounties followed with their best stretch of the night over the next seven minutes, erupting on a 15-6 run to claw back within three, 66-63 with just under six minutes remaining.
 
However, The Rock held MU to just three points over the final three minutes, while knocking down 4-of-5 shots at the foul line down the stretch to hold off the comeback and seal the victory.
 
The Mounties had an up-and-down shooting night, finishing at a 37 percent clip (24-of-65), while the Rock shot 48 percent (31-of-64) on the afternoon, including going over 50 percent to build the first-half advantage.
 
The Rock took advantage of their second chances on offense, leading in second-chance points 30-18, while also pushing the ball in transition, leading 20-12 in fast-break points.
 
Khalid Gates led four players in double figures with a 20-point, 12 rebound double-double, adding three assists and two blocks.
 
The Mounties travel to Edinboro University tomorrow afternoon, Dec. 19 at 3 p.m. for a PSAC crossover contest.