SLIPPERY ROCK — An early PSAC West men’s basketball showdown didn’t turn out to be much of one.

Slippery Rock’s defense stifled Mercyhurst all day en route to a runaway 64-43 victory Saturday afternoon at Morrow Field House.

The visiting Lakers (8-8, 4-2) began the day in a three-way tie with SRU and Indiana (Pa.) atop the PSAC West, but fell behind by double digits before the game was nine minutes old. SRU led 35-20 by halftime and scored the first nine points of the second half to pull away.

“We knew we had to clamp down on defense,” Rock coach Kevin Reynolds said. “Mercyhurst plays a 60 to 65-possession game and we figured we’d have to play at their pace.

“We’d like to run a little bit more, but we can play a slower game, too.”

The Rock (14-4, 5-1) won its fourth straight game and — with IUP’s 59-56 loss to California Saturday) — finds itself alone in first place in the West.

“There’s a long way to go,” Reynolds cautioned. “We’re only focusing on our next opponent.”

That would be Seton Hill (11-5, 3-3) Wednesday night at Morrow Field House. The Rock travels to IUP Saturday evening.

“It’s an important stretch, but they’re all important,” senior point guard Josh Martin said. “We feel like a big family now. We’re comfortable with each other and we’re playing well together.”

Martin paced four Rock players in double figures with 14 points, adding six assists and six rebounds. Kelvin Dixon and Maxx Rynd added 12 points each, Maurice Lewis-Briggs 10 points and nine rebounds.

The Rock allowed Mercyhurst only four offensive rebounds and outboarded the Lakers 36-22 overall.

“We pounded the glass and limited their chances,” Reynolds said.

Anthony Lytle was the only Mercyhurst player in double figures, scoring 10 points. The Lakers’ 43 points marked a season-low. The team’s 21-point margin of defeat was by far its worst of the campaign.

Mercyhurst’s worst loss previously was a season-opening 10-point setback to Shepherd.

“Defense can make up for a lot of other things,” Reynolds said. “We only sank 10 of 22 free throws. That’s awful. We had been averaging 72 percent at the line.

“Josh almost had a quadruple double, if you include his missed free throws,” Reynolds quipped.

“Yeah, most of those were mine,” said Martin, who was 4-of-10 from the line. “That’s a lot easier to handle when you win.”

Mercyhurst 82, SRU (women) 75

The Rock (3-13, 0-6) led by 10 at halftime before the bottom fell out.

Trailing 46-34 seconds into the second half, Mercyhurst (5-11, 3-3) went on a 20-1 run to seize control of the game.

“We just lost our focus. I wish I could explain that better. I can’t,” SRU coach Tanya Longo said.

Mercyhurst senior forward Alayna White picked up two early fouls and played only four minutes in the first half.

“Besides Alayna, we have an extremely young team on the floor,” Lakers coach Deanna Richard said. “She’s a stabilizing force for us and our other girls did not respond well without her.”

The Rock loss was another frustrating one. SRU trailed by five with 2:16 to play, but got no closer.

SRU has lost five games by four points or fewer this season, three of those in overtime. The carrot continues to dangle, but The Rock can’t grab it.

“That’s a great analogy. That’s what’s going on with us. We just can’t get over the hump,” Longo said.

Saturday’s loss spoiled a stellar effort by junior forward D’Asia Chambers, who had 31 points and 13 rebounds. She is averaging well over 20 points in her last 10 games.

Senior forward Jazmyne Frost — averaging 15 points and eight rebounds per outing — had just one point and four rebounds in 24 minutes Saturday.

“We missed her production, no doubt about it ... and she’s a senior,” Longo said. “D’Asia has been tremendous. She’s stepped up as a standout in this league. We need some others to step up with her.”

Richard lauded the play of Chambers.

“We couldn’t stop her,” the Lakers coach said. “Simple as that. We had no answer for her.

“Slippery Rock is coming. They have some good talent there and they will turn the corner. For us, this was a must win. It was good for us to come from behind because these girls hadn’t done that yet.”

Women

MERCYHURST 82

Alayna White 5-13 0-0 10, Jessica Bell 2-7 0-1 4, Alex Artise 4-10 3-4 12, Adrienne Kloecker 6-15 5-6 19, Mariah Penascino 4-5 1-2 11, Katie Fischer 3-8 11-12 20, Nayalioe Piaggesi 1-3 2-2 4, Kelley McBroom 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 26-62 22-27 82.

SLIPPERY ROCK 75

Jazmyne Frost 0-5 1-4 1, D’asia Chambers 13-18 5-8 31, Erica Aiello 4-10 4-67 15, Aidan Geise 3-12 0-0 8, Megan Hardiman 2-5 2-2 7, Kara Houppert 3-4 0-0 8, Danielle Garroutte 1-2 2-2 4, Rebecca Olkosky 0-0 1-2 1. Totals: 26-56 15-24 75.

Mercyhurst 34 48 — 82

Slippery Rock44 31 — 75

3-point goals: Artise, Kloecker 2, Penascino 2, Fischer 3; Aiello 3, Geise 2, Hardinan, Houppert 2

Wednesday: Seton Hill at Slippery Rock

Men

MERCYHURST 43

Anthony Lytle 4-6 1-2 10, Paul Bilbo 1-4 0-0 2, Jonathan Ouegnin 0-4 2-2 2, H’ian Hale 0-2 0-0 0, Callon Dailey 1-5 0-0 2, Beau Samuelson 0-1 0-0 0, Sean Beims 2-3 1-2 5, Andy Hoying 0-1 0-0 0, Terrence Ingram 0-2 2-2 2, Jean Onana 3-5 0-0 6, Greg Williams 2-5 0-0 5, James Ewing 3-6 3-4 9. Totals: 16-44 9-12 43.

SLIPPERY ROCK 64

Maurice Lewis-Briggs 5-13 0-0 10, Tabari Perry 2-3 1-2 5, Kevin Dixon 5-6 0-0 12, Josh Martin 4-8 4-10 14, Maxx Rynd 3-4 4-4 12, Jordan Grady 1-3 0-0 2, Matej Delinac 0-3 0-0 0, Sa’Quan Davis 0-1 0-0 0, Antonio Butler 3-6 1-6 9. Totals: 23-47 10-22 64.

Mercyhurst 20 23 — 43

Slippery Rock35 29 — 64

3-point goals: Lytle, Williams; Dixon 2, Martin 2, Rynd 2, Butler 2

Wednesday: Seton Hill at Slippery Rock