PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team took the floor for the first time Wednesday evening for an exhibition game against the University of Pittsburgh.

The Rock couldn't overcome the massive size disadvantage against the Division I Panthers of the Atlantic Coast Conference as Pitt pulled away for a 98-47 victory. It marked the fifth time the two teams have met in an exhibition game with Pitt improving to 5-0 in those meetings.
 
Slippery Rock played without the services of All-American forward Micah Till, who will miss the first month of the regular season before returning to action Dec. 15 after the fall semester ends. With Till missing down low, Pitt capitalized and outscored SRU 50-24 in the paint.  
 
Pitt finished the game shooting 50.7 percent from the field (35-of-69), 36.8 percent from 3-point (7-of-19) and 58.3 percent at the free throw line (21-of-36). The hosts posted a 49-38 advantage in total rebounds and a 24-11 advantage in turnovers.
 
Slippery Rock shot 28.6 percent from the field (18-of-63), 5.6 percent from 3-point (1-of-18) and 83.3 percent at the free throw line (10-of-12).
 
Will Robinson Jr. led all SRU players with 14 points and seven rebounds to be the second leading scorer in the game. Jared Armstrong added 12 points and three assists.
 
Donovan Walker scored six points, Deontae Robertson added five points and Lashon Lindsey scored four points. Revelinio Tholel grabbed six rebounds and Nik Cazacu blocked two shots to cap the top SRU performances.
 
Pitt got double digit scoring from five players, led by 17 points from Xavier Johnson and 15 points and eight assists from Trey McGowens.
 
Slippery Rock will play a second Division I exhibition game when it travels to Rider University in New Jersey Saturday for a 4 p.m. game. The Rock will officially open the year at the Joe Retton Classic at Fairmont State University against Notre Dame (Ohio) Nov. 8 at 6 p.m.



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