SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Bloomsburg men's basketball team dropped a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover matchup to Slippery Rock, 72-54, inside the Morrow Field House on Friday night.
 
Bloomsburg (2-8, 0-5 PSAC) shot 31.7 percent (19-for-59) from the floor while posting 13-for-30 (43.33 percent) shooting in the second half. Slippery Rock (11-2, 4-1) went 26-for-59 (44.1 percent) from the floor.
 
George Sabatini (Mountain Top, Pa./Holy Redeemer) led the scoring for the Huskies, posting a career-high 16 points while also recording six rebounds and three steals. Ries Naugle (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) notched double-digit points as well, ending the contest with 12 points. In his first collegiate start, RJ Young (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) finished one point shy of a double-double. The freshman tallied career-highs in rebounds (11) and points (9).
 
Sabatini got the Huskies on the board on the opening possession, posting a layup 24 second in. After SRU tied a game with a pair of free throws, Young notched a layup of his own to give Bloomsburg the lead once more. The two sides battled back-and-forth in a one-possession contest, sitting tied at 13-13 with seven minutes into the game.
 
After a four-minute scoreless streak, Naugle sank a three-pointer to give Bloomsburg a 16-13 lead. Another back-and-forth exchange saw the game move to a 20-20 tie with four to play. Slippery Rock found momentum late, scoring ten unanswered to take a 30-20 lead into halftime.
 
A 6-2 run for the Huskies to start the second half pulled the maroon and gold with six. Bloomsburg continued to keep up with The Rock but couldn't close the gap much further as SRU pulled away halfway through the frame. Slippery Rock took home the victory, 72-54.
 
Bloomsburg is right back on the court on Saturday, January 3 as they head to Edinboro for a 3 p.m. matchup.