Boxscore

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Junior forward Maron Brown recorded his 13th "double-double" of the season Wednesday night to lead a losing effort as the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team dropped a 72-64 decision to visiting California in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division action.

Brown finished his evening's work with 19 points and 16 rebounds to his credit, the highest total recorded by any player in the game. He scored 18 of his points in the second half, including each of the first 12 Rock points in the final stanza.

Guard Bryen Spriggs, one of six Rock seniors honored during a pregame ceremony prior to their final home game, scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a substitute role.

Rock leading scorer and second leading rebounder Jabril Bailey, a junior guard who entered the game with per game averages of 15.6 points and 7.7 rebounds, was held to two points and four rebounds.

Despite the yeoman-like efforts of Brown and Spriggs, The Rock suffered its 11th loss in the last 16 outings and saw its season records fall to 15-11 overall and 4-9 in PSAC-West action.

California, with the win, improved its season records to 18-10 overall, 6-7 in division action, and remained in the hunt for a PSAC playoff berth.

The Rock closes out its 2009-10 schedule Saturday with a 7:30 p.m. game at division champion and sixth-ranked Indiana, Pa.

SRU finished the game with a 32% (21-66) efficiency in field goal shooting that included a 29% (8-28) effort from beyond the 3-point arc and sank 14 of 19 (74%) free throws.

California shot 45% (26-58) from the field, 20% (2-10) from long range, and 82% (18-22) from the foul line.

Behind the effort of Brown, The Rock held a 44-35 rebounding advantage, but the hosts committed more turnovers, 18-14.

The Rock took a 2-0 before the opening tip after California was assessed a technical foul for failing to report its starting lineup 10 minutes prior to the start of the game.

That would be the final Rock lead of the night as California ran off eight unanswered points in the first three and a half minutes of live action.

SRU trimmed the deficit to two points, 10-8, at the 14:30 mark of the first half but the guests responded with a 17-7 run in the next seven and a half minutes. That gave the Vulcans a 12-point, 27-25, lead with seven minutes remaining in the opening stanza.

The Rock came right back with a 13-4 run of its own to trim the deficit to three points, 31-28, at halftime and continued its comeback at the onset of the second half as they tied the score at 33-33 with 18 minutes left to play.

California regrouped, though, and went on a 25-9 run in the next 11 minutes to take a 16-point, 58-42, lead with seven minutes remaining.

The Rock never trimmed the gap to less than seven points thereafter.

Kelsey Williams had 14 points and seven rebounds to lead a group of four California players who finished the game with double-digit scoring totals.