Slippery Rock University Athletics

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team opened the 2016-17 season Friday night with a 71-53 loss to No. 7 Wheeling Jesuit at Shepherd University's Butcher Center.
 
The game was the first of a four-game tournament taking place this weekend at Shepherd that features two teams each from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and the Mountain East Conference. The Rock will play hosting Shepherd Saturday to close out the opening weekend of action.
 
A slow start Friday night was the ultimate undoing for Slippery Rock, which managed just 17 points and had 13 turnovers in the first half. That allowed the Cardinals to get out to a 31-17 halftime advantage and never look back.
 
Slippery Rock never led in the game and finished shooting 39.6 percent from the field (21-of-53), 27.3 percent from 3-point (3-of-11) and 47.1 percent from the free throw line (8-of-17). The Rock were outscored in each specialty area on the night, 28-24 in the paint, 24-15 off turnovers, 8-7 in second chance points and 16-0 in fast break points, but did come out with a 32-29 edge in total rebounding.
 
Wheeling Jesuit shot 53.3 percent from the field (24-of-45), 45.5 percent from 3-point (5-of-11) and 58.1 percent at the free throw line (18-of-31).
 
The Rock were led by Christal Malalu with 13 points and four rebounds off the bench. Khyree Wooten added 11 points and four rebounds to lead the starters. Naquil Jones chipped in eight points, four rebounds and three assists.
 
Merdic Green scored five points, pulled down a team-high five rebounds and handed out four assists. Tony Gates also scored five points and George Chase and Jordan Marrow each added four points.
 
Wheeling Jesuit was paced by Haywood Highsmith with a game-high 23 points and nine rebounds. Pat Moseh added 19 points and Kyle Ritz scored 11 points.
 
The Cardinals opened the game on a 10-2 run before Slippery Rock clawed back to within four points, 12-8, with 13:01 to play in the first half, but Wheeling Jesuit answered that move with a 15-4 run and the deficit never came back to single figures.
 
The Rock will look to bounce back and find their first win of the season Saturday night with a 7 p.m. tip against Shepherd. Slippery Rock opens the home portion of its schedule Tuesday night at 7 p.m. against Ohio Eastern.