Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK - Sophomore guard Whis Grant scored 23 of his 28 points in East Stroudsburg University's second-half comeback as the Warriors prevailed over Slippery Rock, 84-72, in a match-up of the top teams in the PSAC's Eastern and Western divisions on Friday night at Morrow Field House.

Senior forward Terrance King had 13 points and 10 rebounds, senior forward Duane Johnson scored 13 and sophomore guard Matt Tobin had 10 for the Warriors (10-2, 7-1), who matched their best-ever PSAC start.

The defending PSAC champion Warriors rallied past Slippery Rock (9-3, 6-2) with a 13-5 run to start the second half. They trailed 32-26 at halftime after falling behind 11-0 in the opening minutes, but won the second half by a 58-40 margin.

The Warriors had a plus-13 advantage in turnovers on the evening, 20-7, including 14-4 after intermission. ESU came into the weekend ranked first in the PSAC and 15th in Division II in turnover margin at +4.8.

Grant started the second half hot, hitting a jumper and a three-pointer as part of the 13-5 start. The Warriors took their first lead of the game, 39-37, on a three-point play by freshman forward Dajon Todmann at the 15:10 mark, and went ahead for good a minute later.

The Warriors used a 12-2 run midway through the second half to open the margin, and Slippery Rock never got closer than six the rest of the way.

Junior forward Zechariah Runkle (seven points, four rebounds) hit a driving layup to start the run, followed by buckets from King and Grant. After two Slippery Rock free throws, King got another low-post basket, Runkle hit one-of-two at the line and Grant capped it with a three-pointer for a 63-52 lead with 6:20 remaining.

Slippery Rock scored the next six, but a five-second inbounds violation followed by a three-point play by Johnson gave the Warriors a 67-58 edge and momentum with 3:40 left. Grant scored the Warriors' final field goal with 2:43 remaining before they went 15-for-18 at the foul line in the last 2:04.

In the first half, ESU climbed back in it after trailing 11-0 just 3:30 into the game. The Warriors made it 14-10 with a 7-0 run, including a three-pointer by freshman guard Malcolm Richardson, and the rest of the half was played within a four-point window as Slippery Rock's lead fluctuated between four and eight points before settling at 32-26 at the half.

Both teams shot an identical mark from the field - 37.3 percent - but ESU made three more three-pointers (5-2) and three more free throws. The Warriors were 29-for-42 at the stripe, including 25-for-36 in the second half and 12-for-14 after Slippery Rock began fouling with 1:18 remaining. The Rock was 26-for-35 at the line in the contest.

Slippery Rock, ranked second nationally in rebounding margin at +14.2, had a 49-39 advantage on the glass.

Devin Taylor had 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead four Rock players in double figures. Darious Clark scored 13, Gerald Brooks had 12 and Tabari Perry added 10 points and nine rebounds.

King, the reigning PSAC East Player of the Week, had his second straight double-double after recording 18 points and 12 rebounds in a 70-62 win over California last Saturday. King has four double-doubles this season and 14 in his career.

ESU finishes its schedule against the PSAC West on Saturday night at Edinboro, which improved to 9-3 (5-3) with a 78-77 (2OT) win over Kutztown.


GAME NOTES
* ESU also opened 7-1 in conference play in 1992 and 2006. Head coach Jeff Wilson was an assistant coach under Sal Mentesana on the 1992 team, and in his fourth season as head coach for the 2006 team.
* The Warriors opened 4-4 in PSAC action, splitting their eight games against the PSAC West, during last year's PSAC championship season.
* ESU is 6-1 against the PSAC West going into Saturday's game at Edinboro. The Warriors also had a 94-91 win at PSAC East member Cheyney on December 8 to account for its 7-1 start.

* ESU has trailed at halftime in two of its seven PSAC wins this season. The Warriors came back from halftime deficits in all three PSAC Tournament games last year.

* ESU has a one-game lead in the PSAC East, ahead of Millersville (10-4, 6-2), which won 62-60 at California, and West Chester (8-4, 6-2), which beat Mercyhurst 68-66. Cheyney, which is ineligible for postseason competition, is in fourth at 5-7 (3-5).

* King moved into ESU's career top 10 in rebounds with 577, surpassing Joe Williams (569 - 1991-96)
* Johnson became the 19th player in school history with 500 career rebounds (503)
* Johnson moved into ESU's career top 10 in steals with 123, tying Tyson Murdock (1989-93)
* Johnson is 2 blocks from entering the career top 10 - he currently has 74. Johnson will join Jonathan Roberts as the only players in school history in the top 10 in steals and blocks.

* King is the first Warrior with consecutive double-doubles since Chris Bach had three straight in 2008-09 (Millersville, Kutztown, Bloomsburg).

* Grant's 23 points in the 2nd half are tied for the most in a half by a Warrior in 11 seasons under head coach Jeff Wilson. Dave Fedorka scored 23 points (all in the 2nd half) against California in 2002-03.
* Grant has two 30-point games in his career, both in season openers - as a freshman vs. West Liberty (L 96-92), and sophomore vs. Alderson-Broaddus (W 80-79).