ETTRICK, Va.  – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team opened the 2015-16 season with a 65-59 road win at Virginia State University in the PSAC-CIAA Challenge Friday night.
 
The Rock led by four at halftime but Virginia State rallied back to take the lead in the second half. The teams traded momentum shifts all night with the game featuring 12 ties. The last of those came at 57-57 with just over four minutes to play, but The Rock closed the game with an 8-2 run to secure the season-opening win.
 
Slippery Rock shot 35.4 percent from the field (23-of-65), 43.5 percent from 3-point (10-of-23) and 60 percent at the free throw line (9-of-15). The Rock recorded a 52-41 edge in rebounding.
 
SRU put four players in double figures, led by Malcolm Richardson with a game-high 21 points. He added five assists and 12 rebounds to finish with a double-double. Jamal Gatali added 16 points and nine rebounds. Cornelius Brown also finished with a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds and Chaquille Pratt added 10 points and five boards.
 
Dontay Jackson chipped in six points as the five SRU starters accounted for 64 of the team's 65 points.
 
Virginia State shot 35.8 percent from the field (24-of-67), 23.8 percent from 3-point (5-of-21) and 40 percent at the free throw line (6-of-15).
 
Elijah Moore scored 19 points and grabbed six rebounds and Kevin Williams added 11 points for the hosts.
 
The Rock men's win over Virginia State completed a sweep for SRU on opening day as the Slippery Rock women also defeated VSU in their opener earlier in the evening at home.

Slippery Rock will remain at Virginia State Saturday and will close the PSAC-CIAA Challenge with a game against St. Augustine's at 6 p.m.