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PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Senior center Maurice Lewis-Briggs scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds and senior forward Tabari Perry recorded a 10-point, 10-rebound "double-double" Friday night in a losing cause as Slippery Rock University dropped a 96-60 exhibition-game decision at the University of Pittsburgh.

Friday's preseason game was the NCAA Division II Rock's second against a Division I rival in the span of four days. SRU dropped a 77-65 decision last Tuesday at Southern Mississippi.

Unlike the game at Southern Miss, The Rock was unable to stay with their major-college rivals Friday.

The Rock battled Pitt on even terms for the first two and a half minutes of action before the Panthers, first-year members of the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference, ran off 12 unanswered points to take command of the action.

Contributing to The Rock woes was a frigid shooting effort early on. SRU made only 26% (7 of 27) shots from the field and were 2-for-13 (15%) from 3-point range in the first half of action. Pitt, meanwhile, made 45% (145 of 31) from the field with a 4-of-12 showing from 3-point range.

The contrasting shooting efforts resulted in a 39-20 halftime lead for Pitt.

SRU's shooting touch warmed up in the second half, when the Green and White hit 41% (12 of 29) action shots and five of 10 shots from long range.

The Rock finished the game with a 34% efficiency on its action shots with a 30% sub-total on 3-point shots. SRU hit a lukewarm 63% (15 of 24) of its free throws.

Pitt finished the game with a 50% (32-64) shooting effort from the field with a 36% (9-25) mark from 3-point range and canned 23 of 37 (62%) of its free throws.

The Panthers held a 45-39 rebounding advantage. Cameron Wright grabbed 10 boards to share game-high honors with The Rock's Perry.

Pitt had four players finish with double-digit scoring totals, led by Durand Johnson's game-high 21 points. Wright added 17 points, Talib Zanna chipped in 14 points and eight rebounds and Lamar Patterson had 11 points and five assts.

The Rock will look to rebound and officially open the season on a winning note Nov. 9 when they take on Charleston in first-day action of the Clarion Hotel Conference Classic hosted by Shepherd University. SRU takes on the tournament's host team the following day before turning its sights to the Nov. 14 home opener vs. Ohio Valley University (7 p.m. tipoff in Morrow Field House).