SLIPPERY ROCK — The game itself won't count in the standings, but its proceeds could go a long way.

Slippery Rock University will open its men's basketball season with a 2 p.m. Nov. 4 exhibition game vs. the University of Pittsburgh at the Petersen Events Center.

The Coaches vs. Cancer exhibition contest will contribute funds toward local pediatric cancer research.

“It's a Pitt initiative, but we're proud to be a part of it as the other team,” SRU athletic director Paul Lueken said. “This is another chance for our athletes to enjoy a game-time atmosphere in a big-time facility against big-time players.”

Pitt head coach Kevin Stallings and the Oakland Zoo will donate $1 for every fan in attendance to the fight against cancer. The Pitt athletic department will contribute $5 per single-game ticket purchased.

Tickets for the game will not be available at SRU. They may be purchased buy calling the Pitt ticket office at 800-643-7488.

This will be the third time in Kevin Reynolds' 10-year SRU men's basketball coaching career that The Rock has played Pitt in an exhibition at the Petersen Events Center. The previous years were 2009 and 2013.

Lueken said SRU contacts Pitt each summer, making itself available.

“We love going down there and basketball schedules are only done a year in advance, unlike football, which we've scheduled up to 2020,” Lueken said.

University of Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan began the “Shoot Down Cancer” program in 2012. Over a four-year span, the event in Madison, Wisc., helped raise more than $220,000 with the American Cancer Society securing more than $1 million in matching donations.

“We are honored to host this event and to help in the fight against cancer,” Stallings said in a released statement. “Our hope is to not only raise a lot of money, but to raise awareness and engage our commu ity.

“We are fortunate to have a platform through basketball to do this.”

Stallings is entering his second year at Pitt and returns only two letter-winners, one being Hampton graduate Ryan Luther.

“One of Coach Stallings' assistants,. Matt Woodley, played at Drake when I was an assistant there,” Reynolds said. “Kevin Stallings was coaching at Illinois State when I was at Drake and we got to know each other.

“We've always had a connection. I think he's one of the top coaches in Divission I. People don't know this, but he's produced a lot of first-round NBA draft picks over the years.”

Since coming to SRU, Reynolds has put his teams in exhibition games at Pitt, Penn State, Providence, Michigan, Tennessee, Southern Mississippi, Navy and Central Michigan, among others.

“Playing at Pitt is great for our recruiting and the SRU fan base,” Reynolds said. “I'm sure we'll have a good following down there.

“We get some of these (exhibition) games because we have a competitive team and we have the name recognition with Slippery Rock. We're a popular choice to bring in.”

The Rock is coming off a 14-15 season and returns four starters. SRU has played in three NCAA Division II tournaments and seven PSAC tournaments under Reynolds.

SRU opens the regular season Nov. 11-12 at Glenville State (W.Va,.) for a weekend tournament. Its home opener is at 3 p.m. Nov. 18 vs. Shippensburg at Morrow Field House.