SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team ended the opening weekend of the 2022-23 season with a perfect 2-0 record following an 82-72 victory over Notre Dame College (Ohio) Saturday at Morrow Field House on day two of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce Conference Challenge.
 
The Rock's perfect record this weekend marks the first time since 2017-18 that SRU has won its first two games of a season.
 
The senior duo of Jonathan McFall and Amante Britt led SRU to the win with a pair of standout performances.
 
McFall provided The Rock with a career-high 28 points on an efficient 10-of-17 night from the field that included a pair of 3-pointers to go with a 6-of-8 showing at the foul line. McFall also produced five rebounds, three steals, one block and an assist over 33 minutes.
 
Not to be outdone, Britt posted a 20-point, four-steal, two-rebound, two-assist game. The Rock's point guard was nearly flawless from deep, shooting 4-of-6 from 3-point territory.
 
After being hampered by early foul trouble in the first half, Britt was dominant in the second half with all 20 of his points and three of his career-high matching steal total coming in the final 20 minutes.  
 
Khalid Gates also finished in double figures at 10 points all the while pulling in five rebounds and blocking one shot.
 
Lashon Lindsey chipped in seven points with Ahmad Galimore and Alex Griggs contributing six points apiece as well. Galimore also corralled six rebounds with Lindsey pulling down five of his own.
 
Bobby Clifford rounded out Slippery Rock's top performers with a game-high seven rebounds over 23 minutes.
 
The Rock and Falcons traded runs throughout the first half as NDC was able to take a slim 36-33 advantage into the halftime break.
 
Notre Dame stretched its lead out to five points on the first basket of the second half before Britt scored SRU's next 10 points to tie the game at 43-43 with 16:23 to play in regulation.  
 
Britt continued his offensive barrage by tallying The Rock's next seven points over the following two minutes to give SRU a 50-45 lead it would never relinquish as Slippery Rock went on to push its lead out to as many as 14 on the way to the eventual 10-point win.
 
For the game, Slippery Rock countered an 8-of-26 shooting effort from 3-point range by converting 44.3 percent (27-of-61) of its total field goal attempts all the while going a near automatic 20-of-24 from the foul line.
 
SRU held a +6 (38-32) rebounding edge over the Falcons while also holding advantages in second chance points (17-15), fast break points (11-4) and points off turnovers (21-15). Both teams committed 16 turnovers. Slippery Rock also had eight blocks as all but two players who saw the floor Saturday for SRU had one rejection.
 
Notre Dame ended the game shooting 42.6 percent (26-of-61) from the field overall, 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from 3-point territory and 78.9 percent (15-of-19) at the foul line. NDC was led by Jaedon Willis with 15 points.
 
Saturday's game gave The Rock a small measure of revenge from last year's game against Notre Dame when the Falcons overcame a 20-point deficit for an overtime-win.
 
Slippery Rock will now look for its first 3-0 start to a season since 2009-10 when it hosts Penn State Greater Allegheny 5:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at Morrow Field House.
 
 
 

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