SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team will open its 2024-25 season with an exhibition game Oct. 30 at Syracuse University, as announced in a joint release between the schools Wednesday.
 
"This is an exciting opportunity for our program," said head coach Ian Grady. "To have the opportunity to play at a historic college basketball venue like the JMA Wireless Dome against an upper echelon team from the ACC is a perfect way to get our guys prepared for the season."
 
Game time and ticket information for the Oct. 30 contest will be announced at a later date.
 
The 2024-25 season has potential to be a special year for Slippery Rock. SRU returns several key pieces from last year's rotation including All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division honoree Maceo Austin as well as starters Ike Herster and Luke Howes in addition to top reserve Sheick Samoura. Complimenting The Rock's core returners is a promising recruiting class.
 
Slippery Rock is coming off a 2023-24 season in which it went 16-14 overall and advanced to the quarterfinals of the PSAC Tournament. The Rock won 14 of their final 21 games to secure the program's fifth consecutive winning season under Grady.
 
Syracuse, which is led by head coach Adrian Autry, went 20-12 overall and 11-9 inside the ACC a year ago. The Orange bring back guard J.J. Starling and Chris Bell from last season's squad. Both head into their junior campaigns as returning starters.
 
The game, which will not count for either team's overall record, marks the first time the two programs have met in an exhibition contest. The Rock's matchup against the Orange will serve as the program's 21st exhibition against a Division I opponent since 2005.
 
Highlights from SRU's previous exhibitions against Division I foes include a 79-56 win against the U.S. Naval Academy in 2012 as well as a seven-point loss to St. Bonaventure in 2007 (75-68) to go with 12-point defeats against Southern Mississippi (77-65 / 2013), Towson (69-57 / 2014) and Pittsburgh (71-59 / 2017).
 
Following the exhibition, Slippery Rock officially commences its season when it hosts Shaw University and Virginia Union University Nov. 8-9 as part of the 2024 Atlantic Region Challenge at Morrow Field House.





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