Slippery Rock University Athletics

WILMINGTON, Del. – The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team opened its 2026-27 season with a 93-89 victory Monday over Lincoln University at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Delaware.
 
Slippery Rock (1-0) has now won its last five season openers. Monday's victory marks The Rock's second consecutive victory over Lincoln (0-1): SRU also defeated LU a year ago, 78-66, at Morrow Field House.
 
The Rock put five athletes in double figures against Lincoln, led by a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double from Elijah Hill. Hill went 8-for-14 from the field and 4-for-6 at the foul line, with five of his game-high rebounding total coming on the offensive glass.
 
Braylon Littlejohn matched Hill in scoring, turning in a career-high 20 points as well on a near flawless shooting night off the bench. Littlejohn, who also distributed a team-best five assists, went 6-for-7 from the field overall, a perfect 2-for-2 from 3-point range and 6-of-6 at the foul line.
 
Playing in his first game at The Rock, Jay Rose connected on four 3-pointers on the way to a 19-point night. Another SRU newcomer, Marlon Barnes Jr. came off the bench to chip in 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and one block.
 
Brady Mayo rounded out SRU's double figure scorers with 12 points in addition to five rebounds and two steals. Mayo held a game-best +/- of +16.
 
For the night, Slippery Rock shot 52.4 percent (33-for-63) from the field overall, 48 percent (12-for-25) from 3-point range and 15-of-22 (.682) at the free throw line.
 
Lincoln countered by shooting 47.9 percent (35-for-73) overall and 78.9 percent (15-of-19) at the foul line, but just 18.2 percent (4-of-22) from 3-point range. Both teams posted near identical rebounding and turnover figures with Lincoln holding slight edges in both (38-37 in rebounds and 13-14 in turnovers committed).
 
3-pointers by Mayo and Rose followed by a Hill fast break layup gave The Rock an early 8-6 lead two minutes into regulation. Hill's bucket turned out to give SRU an advantage it would never relinquish.
 
The Rock built out a 47-37 halftime edge with Hill and Littlejohn combining to score 22 points in the opening 20 minutes.
 
SRU appeared to have put the game away six minutes into the second half as The Rock grew their lead to as many as 26 points at 70-44 and 14:10 to play. However, the next 12 minutes belonged to Lincoln in the form of a 42-18 run that cut Slippery Rock's lead down to just two points with 1:23 to play.
 
The Lincoln comeback bid ended there as Slippery Rock converted 5-of-8 free throws down the stretch while holding LU to only one made field goal – a 3-pointer by Gian-Paul Anderson – over the final 53 seconds en route to the 93-89 win.
 
Lincoln was led by Tyson Barrett's 27-point, eight-rebound effort in the loss.
 
SRU now turns its attention to this weekend's Atlantic Region Challenge at Morrow Field House. As part of the two-day event, SRU plays Davis & Elkins College Friday followed by a Saturday meeting with Bluefield State University. Opening tip is set for 7:30 p.m. on both days.





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