SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Gannon men's basketball team finally obtained the No. 1 spot in the NCAA Division II Atlantic regional rankings Wednesday afternoon. Unfortunately, the Golden Knights saw their seven-game winning streak snapped hours later.

Slippery Rock scored 41 points in each half against the nation's second-best scoring defense and earned a season split against Gannon with an impressive 82-72 victory Wednesday night before a full house at the Morrow Fieldhouse.

The home team was efficient on offense while shooting a high percentage in the first half, but the game still featured three ties and seven lead changes in the first 12 minutes.

Trailing 21-19, Slippery Rock produced a 9-2 run to grab a 28-23 lead on Kyle Camper's three-pointer at the 7:23 mark. The lead increased to nine points (41-32) on Jade Burka's tip-in with 1:02 showing on the clock. Gannon was able to net the final three points of the half and went to the intermission with a 41-35 deficit after Kyle Goldcamp's (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) lay-up with 30 seconds remaining. Slippery Rock shot 53.1 percent (17-32) in the first half and committed only four turnovers.

Gannon tried to rally in the second half, opening the final stanza with a 9-4 run to cut the Rock lead to 45-44 on Joe Lindsey's (Spring Valley, N.Y./Spring Valley) triple from the left wing. The senior guard then drilled a pull-up jumper at the 13:45 mark, giving the Golden Knights their first lead (48-47) since midway through the first half.

However, Slippery Rock regained the lead on its next possession with a lay-up after an offensive rebound. The game remained tight until the Rock used a 12-3 run midway through the half to regain control. Maron Brown's long-range bomb capped the run and gave the home team a 66-55 lead with 6:43 to play.

Gannon cut the deficit to 68-64 with 3:28 remaining, but Slippery Rock iced the victory by making 10-of-11 free throws in the final two minutes.

Goldcamp led Gannon's offensive unit with 15 points and six rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench. Pierre Howard (Chicago, Ill./Bloom) had 14 points, while Tyler Stoczynski (Erie, Pa./McDowell) and Lindsey posted 13 markers each. George Johnson (Arlington, Va./Wakefield) completed Gannon's group of five double-digit scorers with 10 points.

Gannon shot 42.6 percent (26-61) from the field, 29.4 percent (5-17) from three-point range, and 68.2 percent (15-22) from the free throw line.

Denell Stephens led all scorers with 21 points and eight rebounds. Maurice Douglas posted 18 points. Camper ran the Rock offense to near-perfection with 14 points and 13 assists. Brown added 12 points.

Slippery Rock shot 49.1 percent (28-57) from the floor, 29.2 percent (7-24) from behind the arc, and 76 percent (19-25) from the charity stripe.

Gannon, ranked No. 4 in NCAA Division II and No. 1 in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic regional rankings, dropped to 18-3 overall and 7-2 in the PSAC West. The loss dropped the squad into a three-way tie for first place with Indiana (Pa.) and Edinboro. Slippery Rock improved to 15-7 overall and 6-3 in conference play. The Golden Knights return to action Saturday, February 14 at Clarion. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m.

For a complete box score from Wednesday's Gannon-Slippery Rock men's basketball game, please click here.