SLIPPERY ROCK — Kevin Reynolds didn't know the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team had lost eight straight to Clarion.

The Rock coach didn't realize the Golden Eagles had won 27 of the last 30 meetings between the two schools before SRU's 82-58 dismantling of Clarion at Morrow Field House Saturday afternoon.

Most of The Rock players were just as clueless about the one-sided history of the series.

That's just the way Reynolds likes it.

"Most of the players and all of the coaches weren't here for that," Reynolds said. "None of the past history has anything to do with the players or myself. We are playing in the now."

The now has been pretty good for The Rock (10-6, 2-2), which hit the 10-win mark for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.

The victory over Clarion (9-7, 1-3) was a big one early in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-West schedule.

"We knew they were going to be desperate, like we were," Reynolds said. "We needed to win this game and the players came out with a lot of intensity."

The Rock outscored Clarion 25-6 in the first nine minutes of the second half to blow the game as wide open as SRU's style of play.

Denell Stephens led four SRU players in double digits with 23 points and also had eight rebounds.

Stephens doesn't know much about The Rock's past, either. He just knows he's on a pretty good team now.

"When we first started, we thought, 'It's a new year,'" Stephens said. "The mindset is totally different. We're not thinking of the past.We're just trying to look forward and that's what we are trying to do every day."

It was two of the holdovers from the past, though, that made a big impact for The Rock Saturday.

Erroll Robinson hit two big 3-pointers and scored all eight of his points in the first half to help SRU build a 44-36 lead.

Jamar Scales also gave The Rock six points and valuable minutes.

Reynolds said he has tried to get better production off the bench and succeeded againstClarion.

"We've been playing limited guys, and we'll continue to do that if it gives us a better chance to win, but we ultimately want to give guys a break to be fresher later in the game," Reynolds said.

"We had talked about it as a coaching staff that our bench needed to step up for us," Reynolds added. "We know they can do it and tonight they played like we thought they could."

Women

The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team forced 29 turnovers, had 16 offensive rebounds and led at halftime.

But lost to Clarion, 72-64, Saturday afternoon.

It was a game that SRU coach Laurel Heilman hopes doesn't come back to sting her team later in the season.

"It's one you gotta get," Heilman said.

The Rock (6-11, 1-3) fell behind 18-5 in the first 10 minutes of the contest, but scored the next 13 points to draw even.

SRU led as late as the 9:09 mark of the second half, but watched the Golden Eagles (6-10, 2-2) sprint away down the stretch.

It was a frustrating day for Heilman.

"That would be a great word," the coach said.

SRU shot only 36 percent from the floor in the game and watched Clarion drain 11 3-pointers — the most in one game by the Golden Eagles since January of 2004, ironically against The Rock at Morrow Field House.

Lizzie Suwala came off the bench to score 22 points for Clarion.

Sasha Sales recorded another double-double for The Rock with 16 points and 12 boards.

Slippery Rock is by no means in panic mode, Heilman said. But the margin of error in the PSAC West has become razor thin.

"You have to hold home court and steal a couple on the road," Heilman said. "We still have a lot of games left — it's not time to cash the season in yet — but three or four weeks from now, this could come back to haunt you."

WomenCLARION 72Katrina Greer 4-7 2-4 13, Shaina Smith 3-6 2-2 11, Bethany Koch 4-11 2-4 11, Courtney Healy 1-4 1-2 4, Sara Pratt 3-7 2-4 8, Jillian Taylor 0-1 0-0 0, Joanna Catalano 0-0 0-0 0, Aleya Miller 0-0 0-0 0, Chelsea Grabigel 0-1 1-2 1, Rachel Graff 0-0 2-2 2, Lizzie Suwala 6-9 6-6 22. Totals: 21-46 19-26 72

SLIPPERY ROCK 64Julie Molloy 2-13 0-0 5, Nikkie Presto 1-1 2-2 4, Jess Schake 6-11 1-4 13, Chere' Marshall 4-12 1-1 9, Sasha Sales 6-12 4-4 16, Amanda Nero 4-7 0-0 12, Sandra Busser 0-2 0-1, Alissa Schake 1-2 0-0 2, Haley Gaidosh 0-5 0-0 0, Grace Palucis 1-5 0-0 3. Totals: 25-70 8-12 64

Halftime score: Slippery Rock, 28-23

3-point goals: Greer 2, Smith 3, Koch, Healy, Suwala 4; Molloy, Nero 4, Palucis

MenCLARION 58Marcus Robinson 2-7 0-0 5, Ron Hollis 1-4 0-0 2, Shameel Carty 4-12 5-6 14, Mike Sherry 0-4 2-2 2, Josh Yanke 3-7 0-0 6, Damon Gross 3-5 4-5 10, Aaron Trail 0-5 0-0 0, Lonnie Perry 0-0 0-0 0, Greg Parker 1-3 0-1 2, David Blanks 1-3 0-0 2, Angelo Jones 0-1 0-0 0, Paul McQueen 6-10 1-6 13, Sean Corley 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 22-62 12-20 58

SLIPPERY ROCK 82Kyle Camper 0-1 2-4 2, Maurice Douglas 3-9 5-6 14, Michael Evans Jr. 6-11 1-1 15, Maron Brown 4-7 2-3 10, Denell Stephens 9-17 4-4 23, Gary Satterwhite 1-1 0-0 2, Bryen Spriggs 0-1 0-0 0, Jamar Scales 2-3 2-2 6, Tommy Kelly 0-1 2-4 2, Errol Robinson 2-4 2-3 8, Jade Burka 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 27-55 20-27 82

Halftime score: Slippery Rock, 44-36

3-point goals: M. Robinson, Carty; Douglas 3, Evans Jr. 2, Stephens, E. Robinson 2