SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team opens its 2026-27 season 6 p.m. Monday against Lincoln University at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Delaware.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Video and in-game statistics for Monday's game will available via the Lincoln communications and marketing office at the below links.
 
• Live Stats  |  Provided by Lincoln
• Live Streaming Video  |  Provided by Lincoln
 
GAME 1 DETAILS
Opponent: Lincoln University
Date: Monday – 6 p.m.
Location: Wilmington, Delaware
Venue: Chase Fieldhouse
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
Series History: SRU leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Dec. 4, 2025 (SRU won 78-66)
 
SERIES HISTORY
Monday's game will be just the second all-time in the series following last year's inaugural meeting between the teams that resulted in a 78-66 SRU win inside Morrow Field House. SRU jumped out to a 14-point halftime lead in the win before cruising to what was it fifth of 10 double-digit victories in 2025-26.
 
Ike Herster, now a graduate assistant for The Rock, scored a game-high 18 points in the win while returning forward Elijah Hill registered a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double. Other Rock returners to play in last year's win include RJ Sledge (4 assists, 3 rebounds) and Brady Mayo (4 points, 3 rebounds).
 
Lincoln returns three players that appeared in last season's game including Julius Olanrewaju (15 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists), Jordan Sanders (4 points, 3 steals) and Gian-Paul Anderson (6 points, 7 rebounds).
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
• Roster: Link
• 2025-26 Final Stats: Link
• 2025-26 Overall Record: 17-12
• 2025-26 PSAC West Record: 10-10
• 2025-26 PSAC West Finish: 5th
• 2025-26 Postseason: PSAC Tournament (First Round)
• 2026-27 PSAC West Preseason Poll: 4th
• Head Coach: Ian Grady | Ninth season (116-88, .569)
 
LAST YEAR IN BRIEF
Slippery Rock is coming off a 2025-26 season in which it went 17-12 overall and 10-10 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference on the way to qualifying for the PSAC Tournament.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK IN SEASON-OPENERS
In the 111-season history of the men's basketball program at Slippery Rock, SRU has tallied a 66-45 (.595) record in its season-openers. The most consecutive years with a season-opening win at The Rock is 11 (1981-92) while the program's longest losing streak in season-openers is five (1954-59, 1995-00). A year ago, SRU started the season with a 114-76 victory against West Virginia Wesleyan behind Elijah Hill's 20-point, eight-rebound night.
 
Season Opener Facts
Overall Record: 66-45
Home: 44-18
Away: 16-20
Neutral: 4-7
Unknown Location (Pre-1920): 2-0
Longest Winning Streak: 11 games (1981-92)
Most Points Scored: 120 (1991-92 vs. Lake Erie)
Largest Victory: 54 points (102-48) vs. Westminster (2011-12)
Current Streak: W4  
vs. Alderson Broaddus (68-62 / 2022-23)
vs. West Virginia Wesleyan (100-71 / 2023-24)
vs. Shaw (81-74 / 2024-25)
vs. West Virginia Wesleyan (114-76 / 2025-26)
 
LEAVING HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME
Monday's game will be The Rock's first season-opener played away from Morrow Field House since 2019-20.
 
NON-CONFERENCE DOMINANCE
Dating back to the 2008-09 season, SRU has posted a 108-55 (.663) mark outside of the PSAC.
 
THE ROCK vs. THE CIAA
Slippery Rock holds a 5-6 record all-time against current schools competing in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).
 
18 YEARS OF SUCCESS
Slippery Rock has recorded winning records in 16 of the last 18 years dating back to the 2008-09 season with 15 postseason berths occurring over that stretch.
 
Across the 17-team Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, only Indiana (Pa.) and East Stroudsburg have produced more winning campaigns than The Rock over the last 16 seasons.
 
Winning Seasons by PSAC Teams (Since 2008-09)
t1: Indiana (Pa.) - 17
t1: East Stroudsburg - 17
t3: Slippery Rock - 16
t3: West Chester – 16
 
NEW YEAR, NEW ROCK
The 2026-27 Slippery Rock men's basketball team features a re-shaped roster as only four players who played in a game on last season's team that went 17-12 overall and 10-10 inside the PSAC return this year. Among the nine new returners are four freshmen and five transfers.
 
A LOOK AT THE RETURNERS
#2 Braylon Littlejohn: 6-2 – Junior - Guard – Butler, Pennsylvania
• One of three local products from nearby Butler High School on the 2026-27 roster, Littlejohn played in 16 games last year primarily as a reserve. Littlejohn carved out an important role as one of The Rock's first guards off the bench last season (22.3 mpg) with per game averages of 6.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals. He shot 44.7 percent from the field overall and a near automatic 82.5 percent at the foul line.
 
#3 RJ Sledge: 5-10 – Sophomore - Guard - Pittsburgh
• Sledge returns for his second year in The Rock's system following a freshman campaign in which he started 15 of 26 games played and registered per game averages of 7.5 points, 2.9 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals. He was 16th in the PSAC in assist/turnover ratio (1.4), 18th in steals per game and 22nd in assists per game.
 
• Sledge distributed the fourth most assists by a freshman in program history in addition to ranking seventh in steals and eighth in free throw percentage by an athlete in their rookie season at SRU.
 
#14 Bryon Ottrix: 5-10 – 5th - Guard – Cleveland, Ohio
• A member of the program since 2022, Ottrix is back for his final collegiate season after missing last year due to injury. A former transfer from Detroit Mercy, Ottrix has appeared in 26 games over his Slippery Rock career.
 
#22 Elijah Hill: 6-4 – Junior - Forward – McDonald, Pennsylvania
• Hill started 18 of 19 games played a year ago on the way to averaging 11 points and 6.4 rebounds per game over 27.4 minutes per contest while shooting 63.4 percent from the field overall and 60.9 percent from 3-point range (14-of-23). He ranked second for SRU in offensive rebounding (2.7 orpg), while also being third in both overall rebounding and points per game as well as being fifth in made 3-pointers.
 
#32 Brady Mayo: 6-1 – Sophomore - Guard – Beaver, Pennsylvania
• Mayo was one of only three Rock athletes to appear in all 29 games last season, including 21 starts as a rookie. He closed his first season at SRU averaging 10.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game over 25.3 minutes per contest.
 
• At 86 percent, Mayo ranked third in the PSAC among qualified athletes in free throw shooting all the while being second for SRU in made 3-pointers (34) and fourth in scoring. He set a Slippery Rock freshman record for free throw percentage in addition to ranking seventh in SRU rookie history in points and minutes played as well as being 10th in steals.
 
HITTING THE PORTAL
#4 Nick DelGratta: 6-7 – Junior – Guard / Forward – Struthers, Ohio
• DelGratta began his college career at the Community College of Allegheny County (2023-24) and Butler County Community College (2025-26). No matter what school he's been with, DelGratta has been a proven scorer as evidenced by his 1,044 points between the two stops. A year ago, he earned first team NJCAA All-Region 20 honors after leading NJCAA Division III in scoring with 29.7 points per game while also averaging 8.8 rebounds, 3.8 steals and 3.0 assists a game.
 
#5 Rashad McCormick: 6-7 – Junior - Guard – Charlotte, North Carolina
• A veteran of 59 career games played between Buttler Community College (Kansas) and Gillette College, McCormick comes to The Rock after a strong sophomore season at Gillette where he started 28 games and averaged 21 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
 
#11 Marlon Barnes Jr.: 6-6 – Senior – Guard / Forward – Cleveland, Ohio
• Barnes Jr. comes to The Rock after stops at a pair of Division I institutions in the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Evansville. A versatile athlete, Barnes Jr. is a former three-star prospect out of Brush High School in Cleveland, Ohio where he was ranked the No. 3 forward in the state of Ohio, and No. 9 overall athlete in the state, by 247Sports as a senior.
 
#23 Jay Rose: 6-5 – Junior – Guard / Forward – Berea, Kentucky
• Jay Rose is new to The Rock, but very familiar to the PSAC West after appearing in 41 games over two seasons at Pitt-Johnstown. While with the Mountain Cats, Rose averaged 15.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and just under one steal per game in addition to shooting 49.7 from the field overall, 39.8 percent from distance and 76.2 percent at the foul line.
 
#30 Bryan Saleh: 6-8 – Junior - Forward – Beirut, Lebanon
• Saleh is The Rock's tallest player on the 2026-27 roster at six feet eight inches and previously played collegiately at Gordon State College.
 
FRESHMEN ORIENTATION
#1 Amon Hawthorne: 6-2 – Guard – Pittsburgh
• Lettered four times in basketball at Penn Hills High School … Was a 1,000-point scorer and "Fab 5" selection … Averaged 21.1 points per game as a senior.
 
#13 Sean Badea: 6-2 – Guard – Pennsburg, Pennsylvania
• Lettered four times in basketball at Andrews Osborne Academy … A two-time All-Elite Prep League choice … Took part in AAU competition for Team Takeover SC and WeR1 UAA 17u.
 
#21 Stainton Forbes: 6-3 – Guard – Butler, Pennsylvania
• Was a two-sport athlete at Butler High School, lettering three times in both basketball and track & field … Graduated with honors … A member of the National Honor Society.
 
#35 Andrew Gettinger: 6-7 – Forward – Butler, Pennsylvania
• A two-sport athlete at Butler High School, lettering in basketball and track & field … Was a first team All-6A selection and the MVP of the 2026 Cager Classic during prep career.
 
2026-27 COACHING STAFF
One of the longest tenured coaches in the PSAC, Ian Grady is back for his 18th year on The Rock's coaching staff overall, and his ninth as the program's head coach. Grady, who has a career record of 116-88 (.569), is yet to have a losing season as a head coach.
 
Grady is the only active PSAC coach to have started his head coaching career with seven consecutive years with at least 15 wins a season. He is 11 wins away from surpassing Bab Barlett (1985-94) as the fourth winningest coach in SRU men's basketball history.
 
Grady will have plenty of company on The Rock's bench this season. In addition to the returns of lead assistant coach Jon Valeriano and volunteer assistants Brad Henry and Duncan Williams, former Penn State New Kensington head coach Brant Mack joins the staff as a volunteer assistant while former SRU standout Ike Herster is in his first year as a graduate assistant.
 
ROCK PICKED FOURTH IN PSAC WEST PRESEASON POLL
Slippery Rock was picked to finish fourth in the PSAC West this season, the league office announced recently with the unveiling of its annual preseason poll.
 
Defending national champions Gannon was picked to win the Western Division after garnering eight first-place votes. Indiana (Pa.), California (Pa.), The Rock and Seton Hill made up the remaining top half of the preseason prognostication, with the Vulcans tallying the remaining first-place vote.
 
The rest of the Western Division poll featured Pitt-Johnstown in sixth place followed by Edinboro, Clarion and Lock Haven.
 
The top six teams in both the Western Division and Eastern Division standings at the end of the regular season qualify for the PSAC Tournament.
 
New this year, is the return of Lock Haven to the PSAC West after spending the past 12 seasons in the PSAC East. The Bald Eagles' move to the Western Division coincides with the eventual arrival to the Eastern Division of Lackawanna, which will play a full conference schedule this season without counting towards the league standings.
 
THE 2026-27 SCHEDULE
Slippery Rock plays a 28-game schedule consisting of its 21-game league schedule and seven non-conference contests. Of the 28 regular-season games, 15 will be played at the friendly confines of Morrow Field House where Slippery Rock is 187-63 (.748) since 2008.
 
In addition to its round-robin 16-game Western Division slate, SRU plays crossover contests against West Chester, Millersville, Mansfield, East Stroudsburg and Kutztown of the PSAC East.
 
The Rock's non-conference schedule features games against Lincoln, Davis & Elkins, Bluefield State, Penn State Shenango, Glenville State, Lackawanna and D'Youville.
 
Under Grady, Slippery Rock has gone 75-33 (.694) in home games, 25-15 (.625) in crossover contests against PSAC East teams and 31-24 (.564) in non-conference matchups.
 
Of SRU's 20 unique opponents this season, 11 finished last year holding a .500 or better winning percentage.
 
2026-27 Schedule Breakdown By 2025-26 Record
Overall record of 2026-27 Opponents from last year: 328-320 (.506)
 
Winning Record (9): Gannon (34-3)*, IUP (24-8)*, California (23-9)*, West Chester (21-8), East Stroudsburg (21-9), Millersville (20-9), Glenville State (18-12), Seton Hill (18-13), Bluefield State (17-16)
 
.500 Record (2): Lackawanna (16-16), PSU Shenango (13-13)
 
Losing Record (9): Edinboro (13-15), Clarion (12-16), Pitt-Johnstown (12-16), Lock Haven (10-19), Lincoln (10-20), Davis & Elkins (10-20), D'Youville (8-18), Kutztown (6-20), Mansfield (4-23)
 
* Made NCAA Tournament
 
LINCOLN PRIMER
• Roster: Link
• 2025-26 Final Stats: Link
• 2025-26 Overall Record: 10-20
• 2025-26 CIAA Record: 5-12
• 2025-26 CIAA North: t-4th
• 2025-26 Postseason: CIAA Tournament (Quarterfinals)
• 2026-27 PSAC CIAA Poll: 8th
• Head Coach: Julius Hodge | Third season (28-32, .467)
 
SCOUTING LINCOLN
• Lincoln enters the 2026-27 season picked to finish eighth in the CIAA preseason poll on the heels of a 10-20 season in 2025-26 that included a 5-12 conference record.
 
• The Lions roster features a group six returners as well as seven transfers and one freshman. Leading the Lincoln returners is guard Julius Olanrewaju, who averaged 10.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game a season ago.
 
• Among the top transfers for Lincoln are:
Bryson Calamese (Alcorn State): 6-0, Guard - Played 31 games last year at Alcorn.
Delkedric Holmes (Mississippi Valley State): 6-2, Guard - Started 13 of 17 games played at MVSU last year
Viczavious Madden (Wallace State): 6-7, Forward - Averaged 16.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 29 starts at Wallace.
Mussa Mzein (Mississippi Valley State): 6-10, Center - Started 15 of 33 games at MVSU last year.
Asa White (Eastern Kentucky): 6-9, Center – Played 20 games for EKU in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
 
UP NEXT
SRU's first home games of the year come Nov. 13-14 as part of what's become the annual Atlantic Region Challenge at Morrow Field House. As part of the two-day event, SRU plays Davis & Elkins Nov. 13 followed by a Nov. 14 meeting with Bluefield State. Opening tip is set for 7:30 p.m. on both days.





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