SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University’s men’s basketball team moved a step closer to clinching a first-round bye in the PSAC Tournament with an 83-74 win over Mercyhurst Wednesday night at Morrow Field House.

The loss snapped an eight-game winning streak for the Lakers (16-5, 11-5), who dropped 2.5 games behind SRU for second place in the PSAC West with four games to play.

The top two teams in the standings receive a tourney bye before playing a home game.

SRU (17-7, 14-3) played without leading scorer Micah Till for the second straight game, but still placed five players in double figures. Nolen Gerald led the way with a career-high 24 points. He also grabbed six rebounds.

Till is sidelined with a leg injury.

John Warren II scored 19 points, had six rebounds and four steals while Jared Armstrong scored 14 points. Julius Palmer contributed 12 points and eight rebounds while Vinny Lasley netted 10 points.

Patrick Smith paced Mercyhurst with 19 points and 10 boards.

Women

SRU 90, Mercyhurst 63 — The Rock built an 18-point lead in the first half on their way to a victory at Morrow Field House.

Brooke Hinderliter and Daeja Quick both tallied 23 points to lead The Rock (10-13, 8-9).

Madison Johnson added 15 points and Ciara Patterson 14 for SRU, which led 42-24 at the break.

Hinderliter and Johnson led the effort on the boards, both grabbing eight rebounds.

Mercyhurst (8-15, 5-11) was paced by Lauren Lapertosa’s 11 points.

Both SRU teams visit Clarion on Saturday. The women play at 1 p.m., the men at 3 p.m.