SLIPPERY ROCK — If this was Slippery Rock’s seniors’ final boys basketball game, they’ll remember it.

The Rockets fell behind rival Grove City, 14-1, on Senior Night, failing to sink a field goal until Elam Pyle drained a trey with 1:13 left in the opening period. Slippery Rock (11-11, 5-5 in region) fought back for a 62-56 victory.

Slippery Rock did not take the lead until 5:15 remained in the third quarter. Josh Sabo sank a layup off a steal to give the Rockets a 33-31 edge. The Rockets scored six points in the final 29 seconds of the first half to pull within 29-27 at the intermission.

“That flurry definitely gave them momentum,” Grove City coach Chris Kwolek said. “We’re an immature team at times. We didn’t stomp on their throats when we could have.”

Trailing 29-21, SR closed the gap on a Josh Book layup, Book’s offensive rebound and stickback of his own missed free throw, and a Levi Prementine layup off a steal from Sabo in the final second.

“This was a slow grind. I knew it’d have to be that way,” SR coach A.J. Motta said. “I reminded our kids of that during every timeout, every break. There was so much at stake tonight. I’ve never been more proud of a basketball team.”

But will the come-from-behind Senior Night win be enough?

District 10 decided to allow the top six teams into the playoffs during a preseason meeting. There is talk of letting eight teams in now as the middle part of the region standings are jammed up.

Slippery Rock, Sharon and Greenville are all 5-5. The Rockets’ fate will be decided at a District 10 committee meeting Sunday.

“If they take the top eight, we’re good,” Motta said. “If they stay with six ... All I can say is, I believe we’re one of the hottest teams in District 10 right now.”

A trey by Sabo gave the Rockets a 41-36 lead through three quarters. Grove City (13-9, 8-2) closed within 45-43 on a trey by Brett Loughry with 4:12 remaining, but an 8-0 Slippery Rock run — capped by another Sabo trey with 3:26 left — gave SR a 53-43 edge and the Eagles did not threaten again.

“We’ve been looking at this game all year,” Rockets senior Jacob Wolak said. “This is definitely our biggest win of the season. For our senior class, it’s the biggest win of our careers.”

Book led the Rockets with 16 points. Sabo had 12 points, Dylan Gordon 11 points and three assists, Wolak eight points and three steals.

Nathan Greer paced Grove City with 19 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Loughry scored 15 points, Kamden Martin collected 12 points and eight rebounds. The Eagles do not have a senior on their roster.

Grove City had a seven-game winning streak snapped.

“We showed our immaturity tonight, they showed their experience,” Kwolek said. “I thought Slippery Rock would win the region this year. They’re playing championship caliber basketball right now.”

Rocket seniors honored during pregame ceremonies were Pyle, Quinn Parson, Sabo, Gordon, Wolak, Garrett Stabryla and Jack Grupp.

GROVE CITY 56

Jimmy Irani 2-3 0-0 4, Nathan Greer 8-14 3-8 19, Ben Fischer 0-1 0-0 0, Paul Gubba 2-3 0-0 4, Brett Loughry 6-12 0-0 15, Gavin Lutz 1-12 0-1 2, Kamden Martin 5-8 2-3 12. Totals: 24-53 5-11 56.

SLIPPERY ROCK 62

Levi Prementine 3-5 1-3 7, John Sabo 4-5 2-2 12, Dylan Gordon 1-6 8-12 11, Jacob Wolak 3-3 2-2 8, Josh Book 7-9 0-1 16, Elam Pyle 1-1 2-2 5, Quinn Parson 0-0 0-0 0, Max Kovaciok 1-2 0-0 3. Totals: 20-31 15-22 62.

Grove City 14 15 7 20 — 56

Slippery Rock 7 20 14 21 — 62

3-point goals: Grove City 3 (Loughry 3), Slippery Rock 7 (Sabo 2, Gordon, Book 2, Pule, Kovacik)

JV: Grove City, 45-42 (GC: Paul Gubba 19, SR: Max Kovacik 20)