SLIPPERY ROCK — Defense and rebounding can go a long way.

Slippery Rock University smothered Seton Hill with both Saturday in cruising to a 67-32 men's basketball win at Morrow Field House.

The win snapped the first four-game losing streak in coach Kevin Reynolds' nine years at The Rock (11-10, 7-8).

“We've been guarding people and rebounding the ball well all season,” Reynolds said. “Our own turnovers and lack of free throw shooting have negated much of that.

“It's been a frustrating season as a result.”

There was nothing frustrating about Saturday's performance.

The Griffins (8-11, 5-10) shot just 20 percent from the floor — 9 of 44 — and SRU grabbed 48 rebounds to Seton Hill's 19.

An early 10-0 Rock run gave SRU a 10-2 lead and Seton Hill never got back in the game. The lead was 21-5 10 minutes into the contest and the Griffins never got closer than nine the rest of the way.

“This was a must win for us if we want to be serious about making the PSAC Tournament,” Reynolds said.

The win enabled The Rock to hold on to fourth place in the PSAC West. The top six teams in the West and East divisions make the tournament.

“We've had lapses of three or four minutes at a time in games this year where we don't keep up the intensity,” junior forward Tony Gates said. “Today, we gave 110 percent for 40 minutes.

“That's the way it has to be for us to be successful and get on a roll.”

Seton Hill entered the game averaging 73.9 points per contest. The Griffins' 32 were easily a season-low. Their previous low was 59 in a loss to Cheyney.

SRU leads the PSAC in defense, allowing just 63.6 points per game. Conversely, The Rock is last in the league in scoring offense at 63.9.

SRU has been outrebounded in a game only once all season.

“We're fifth in the nation in rebounding margin (plus 10.5) and fourth in scoring defense ... We know where our strengths are.

“You can only work on free throws so much and we have to take better care of the basketball.”

The Rock sank eight of 16 free throws and had 17 turnovers Saturday.

Merdic Green paced SRU with 18 points and Khyree Wooten added 12. Gates had nine points and nine rebounds, Amir Maddred eight boards.

No Seton Hill player scored in double figures.

Rock Junior forward Christal Malalu received the annual Charles “Pops” Knauss Memorial Basketball Scholarship before the game.

Seton Hill 74, SRU (women) 63

Playing without senior point guard and PSAC scoring leader Lexi Carpenter, The Rock (9-12, 6-9) dropped a critical PSAC West game Saturday.

Carpenter, averaging 20.1 points per game, started the contest, but played only a minute while battling a flexor muscle strain.

“She tried. She just couldn't get it loose enough to go with it,” SRU coach and Mars resident Bobby McGraw said. “The girls took the floor with the mind-set they could get it done without her.”

A 9-0 run at the end of the first quarter gave The Rock a 20-15 lead, but Seton Hill (12-9, 8-7) rallied for a 31-29 edge by halftime.

The Rock trailed by just 50-47 through three quarters and by 61-55 with 4:03 left, but could get no closer.

The loss leaves SRU two games out of a PSAC West playoff spot with seven games remaining.

“There's a lot of games left. We just have to steal one somewhere to make up for this, that's all,” McGraw said.

C.C. Dixon scored a season-high 20 points for SRU and added nine rebounds. Freshman guard Brooke Hinderliter — who ran the point in Carpenter's absence — scored 19 points, had seven rebounds and three assists.

Karns City graduate LeeAnn Gibson grabbed six rebounds in 22 minutes of action.

“LeeAnn was a monster on the boards when she was in there,” Carpenter said. “Brooke gave us an outstanding effort. I'm excited about these young players and their prospects moving forward.”

Jenna Kaufman led Seton Hill with 19 points. Mariah Wells had 16, Alexandria Deep 12 and Lindsey Mifsud 10 in a balanced attack.

“This only counts as one conference win,” Seton Hill coach Mark Katarski said, “We have a long way to go yet.

“We weren't going to change our game-plan because Carpenter was out. They have other scholarship players on that team. We knew it'd still be a tough game.”

Both SRU teams host California (Pa.) Wednesday night at Morrow Field House.

“We haven't beaten them since 2001,” McGraw said of the Vulcans. “It doesn't get any easier.”