SLIPPERY ROCK — Mercyhurst went on a 25-6 run during a nine-minute stretch Wednesday night and defeated Slippery Rock, 81-72, in PSAC West men’s basketball at Morrow Field House.

The win lifted the Lakers (10-11, 8-9) above The Rock (12-12, 8-10) into fourth place in the PSAC West. SRU is tied with Seton Hill for fifth.

The top six teams in the PSAC East and West Divisions qualify for the conference tournament.

Naquil Jones scored 23 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists for The Rock. Merdic Green contributed 21 points and eight boards, Christal Malalu 10 points and nine rebounds.

Durrell McDonald led Mercyhurst with 28 points.

Mercyhurst 67, SRU (women) 48 — The Rock (9-15, 6-12) led by as many as 10 in the second half, but could not avoid its fifth straight loss.

Senior point guard and PSAC scoring leader Lexi Carpenter remains sidelined with an injury and did not suit up for SRU.

C.C. Dixon paced Slippery Rock with 15 points. Cassidy Wright came off the bench to score 11 points and Brooke Hinderliter had nine points and nine rebounds.

Karns City graduate LeeAnn Gibson had six rebounds and scored four points for SRU.

Jalin Steel paced the Lakers (18-5, 13-4) with 29 points.

Both Rock teams are off this weekend and travel to Clarion Wednesday night.