SLIPPERYROCK — The Rock is in first place.

Sure, the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team is only 1-0 in the PSAC West after its 79-60 win over Lock Haven at Morrow Field House Wednesday night.

Sure, there are two other teams sharing that top spot with SRU.

But for a team that has struggled to win conference games in the past, 1-0 feels pretty good.

"It sure does," said first-year SRU coach Jamal Palmer. "Right now, the guys are in the locker room enjoying it. We joke around about it. We're in first place. We still know it is going to get harder for us and it is very early."

The Rock (4-10, 1-0) took over early, leading 20-10 midway through the first half and finished strong late by going on a 12-2 run to put the game out of reach of the Bald Eagles (4-10, 0-1).

Glenn Reepmeyer was the key to the fast start and the rousing finish. The senior earned his fifth double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Reepmeyer also had seven blocked shots and three assists for The Rock.

He put up those numbers despite sitting out for a large portion of the second half after suffering a nasty cut under his right eye from a flailing Lock Haven elbow.

But Reepmeyer returned to help guide The Rock, which won only one conference game a season ago, to a 1-0 PSAC West start.

"It's a good start, but we have some really good competition coming up," Reepmeyer said.

Matt Schaefer also scored 17 points and had seven assists for SRU, which held a 49-33 rebound advantage and had 19 assists to Lock Haven's four.

SRU had 11 different players score, with most of the points coming in the paint as The Rock was determined to put its superior size to use.

"We knew we could take advantage of those guys inside," Palmer said. "We just had to stick to what we wanted to do: get the ball inside or drive to the basket."

Lock Haven got as close as 41-37 in the second half after a pair of 3-pointers by Billy Arre, who finished with a game-high 21 points.

But SRU built its lead back to 10 with a little more than seven minutes remaining and led by as many as 20 late in the contest.

Lock Haven 71, SRU 55 — It was not a characteristic night for The Rock women's basketball team.Normally sound from the free throw line, SRU was a mere 8-of-18.Normally more careful with the basketball, The Rock committed 17 turnovers, including 11 in a forgettable second half."We're second in the conference in free throws," said SRU women's coach Laurel Heilman. "We've won some games at the line this season. That stuck out to us."Still, The Rock (5-8, 0-1) had several chances to seize the game from Lock Haven (7-7, 1-0).After falling behind by as many as 13 points in the first half, The Rock roared back to cut the lead to five early in the second half.SRU fell behind by double digits again, only to chip away and trail by three points with six minutes remaining in the game.Then the bottom fell out."It was breakdowns," Heilman said. "When you are down by three with six minutes left and you end up losing by 16, there are some breakdowns in there.The Rock's bench scored 28 of its 55 points. Normally, that would be a good thing. But Heilman had hoped by now to know for sure what roles each of her players would play this season.Nijha McNeely came off the bench to score 11 points for The Rock. Chere' Marshall, who almost single-handedly spurred on a comeback in the second half, also finished with 11 points."I can't tell you what our identity is," Heilman said. "I feel we're the deepest team talentwise since I have been here. ... I should know starters and a rotation. The players should know what their roles are. But I don't. I have to tell you, I don't."

MenLOCKHAVEN 60Justin Wilson 4-13 2-2 11, Jeff Eveillard 2-5 0-0 4, James Chappell 4-11 0-0 8, Billy Arre 8-19 3-9 21, Kyle Skinner 0-0 0-0 0, Kranthi Senadhi 0-2 0-1 0, Jarell Spence 0-1 1-2 1, Jason DeJesus 1-1 0-0 3, A.J. Zimmer 2-3 0-0 4, Patrick Long 0-1 0-0 0, Denny Mortimer 3-11 2-4 8, William Logan 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 24-68 18 60

SRU 79Glenn Reepmeyer 6-11 5-8 17, Matt Schaefer 5-7 5-6 17, Jamar Scales 2-5 1-2 5, Joseph Vines 4-11 1-2 9, Erroll Robinson 2-6 1-2 5, Brian Capuzano 2-2 0-0 4, Rashiid Coleman 1-2 0-0 2, Brandon Thompson 1-2 0-0 2, David White 1-5 0-0 2, Kenny Smith 3-6 2-2 10, Joe Marzullo 0-0 0-0 0, Troy Yonkers 3-4 0-2 6. Totals: 30-61 15-24 79

Halftime: SRU 32-27.

3-point goals: Lock Haven 4-15 (Wilson 1-4, Chappell 0-2, Arre 2-6, Senadhi 0-1, DeJesus 1-1, Long 0-1; SRU 4-14 (Schaefer 2-4, Vines 0-1, Robinson 0-1, Coleman 0-1, Thompson 0-1, White 0-2, Smith 2-4).

Rebounds: Lock Haven 33 (Arre 8), SRU 49 (Reepmeyer 10).

Assists: Lock Haven 4 (Four ties with 1), SRU 19 (Schaefer 7).

WomenLOCK HAVEN 71Elizabeth Gabrielle 3-8 2-2 10, Shameka Lee 6-10 2-2 14, Candace Siller 0-1 0-0 0, Ilia Lopez 2-13 10-12 15, Ginger Williams 6-12 6-12 18, Malika Miller 0-0 0-0 0, Kara Waltenbaugh 0-0 0-0 0, Kirtsen Kudrick 2-4 0-1 4, Marqietta Booth 0-2 0-0 0, Lauren Kelshaw 3-5 0-0 8, Connie Derzack 1-1 0-0 2, Evelyn Wynn 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-56 20-29 71

SLIPPERYROCK 55Nikki Presto 2-6 0-2 6, Amanda Chojnacki 0-4 2-2 2, Dana Stewart 0-2 2-2 2, Dana Stewart 0-2 2-2 2, Chere' Marshall 5-9 1-2 11, KellyAnn Staudinger 3-6 0-0 6, Amanda Nero 2-7 2-2 6, Kara Spagnola 0-2 0-3 0, Alissa Schake 0-0 0-2 0, Haley Gaidosh 0-0 0-0 0, Jessica Schake 2-8 0-1 4, Amanda Kaufman 3-4 0-0 7, Nijha McNeely 5-8 1-2 11. Totals: 22-56 8-18 55

Halftime: Lock Haven 34-24.

3-point goals: Lock Haven 5-14 (Gabrielle 2-4, Lopez 1-5, Booth 0-2, Kelshaw 2-3; SRU 3-7 (Presto 2-5, Nero 0-1, Kaufman 1-1).

Rebounds: Lock Haven 37 (Williams 9), SRU 40 (Stewart 7).

Assists: Lock Haven 16 (Gabrielle 6), SRU 13 (Presto 5).