SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University men’s basketball coach Kevin Reynolds defended his team’s home opener against regional campus foe Ohio University-Eastern Friday night.

“Kansas, North Carolina —everybody schedules games like this early in the season,” Reynolds said. “We’re a work in progress with a lot of new players. This game served a definite purpose for us.”

It served as The Rock’s first win of the season as SRU (1-2) ran away from the outmanned Panthers, 92-46, at Morrow Field House.

Four Rock players scored in double figures with a fifth, Butler graduate Jade Burka, just missing with eight points and 10 rebounds in 26 minutes.

Three SRU players, Tabari Perry, Joe Vines and R.J. Rush, didn’t play because of slight injuries. A fourth, New Castle graduate Devin Taylor, had to sit out the first three games because he participated in some unsanctioned games during the offseason.

Perry averaged 10.6 points in SRU’s two losses at the PSAC-WVIAC Challenge at Shepherd College last weekend.

“Tabari is one of our best players,” Reynolds said. “We haven’t had our full team together for a game yet and we haven’t put 40 minutes of basketball together yet,” Reynolds said.

OU-Eastern (3-4) never led Friday and the final margin marked The Rock’s biggest lead of the night. SRU went on an 11-0 run for the final 2:10.

The Panthers managed to outrebound The Rock in the first half, only to get outboarded 54-37 for the game.

“Getting to loose balls was our problem tonight,” Panthers coach Donnie Madzia said. “That’s where their physicality and athleticism take over.

“I don’t like these games. We play too many of them,” he added. “I know our program gets money for it, but I’d rather have a fundraiser.”

The Rock’s Maron Brown posted his third double-double in as many games, recording 16 points and 10 rebounds in only 18 minutes. Jabril Bailey scored 19 points, Torrance Timothy had 16 points and John Bayardelle had 15.

Jon Valeriano had nine assists for SRU.

Nick Schuetz paced OU-Eastern with 13 points. Jason Shaw, averaged 19 per game, and Zach Tolzda, averaging 16, were held to six and four points, respectively.

The Rock embarks upon a five-game road trip before returning home against OU-Eastern Dec. 29.

“This is our third year and we need to get better on the road, so we’re playing more road games this season,” Reynolds said. “Our overall schedule is tougher, but I think we’re ready for it.”

Only 12 of The Rock’s 28 regular season games will be played at Morrow Field House.

OU-EASTERN 46Jason Shaw 2-9 1-26, Carter Baldwin 3-5 0-0 7, Andy Hundley 1-2 0-0 2, Nick Schuetz 4-15 2-2 13, Zach Tolzda 2-6 0-0 4, Steven Keating 0-3 2-2 2, Grant McCroskey 2-4 0-0 6, Walter Cox 0-0 0-0 0, Jordan Stephens 1-10 0-0 2, Heath Brooks 1-4 1-2 3, Logan Wendt 0-5 1-4 1.

Totals: 16-63 7-13 46.

SLIPPERY ROCK 92Jabril Bailey 9-14 0-0 19, Maron Brown 6-10 3-3 16, Rashiid Coleman 1-4 0-0 3, Jon Valeriano 0-2 0-0 0, Torrance Timothy 7-13 1-2 16, John Bayardelle 6-12 0-0 15, John Bossle 3-4 0-0 7, Will Sanborn 0-5 1-2 1, Tommy Kelly 3-8 0-0 7, Jade Burka 3-9 2-2 8.

Totals: 38-81 7-9 92.

Halftime score: SRU 42-24.

3-point goals: OU-Eastern 7-19 (Shaw, Baldwin, Schuetz 3, McCroskey 2); SRU 9-27 (Bailey, Brown, Coleman, Timothy, Bayardelle 3, Bossle, Kelly).

Nov. 27: SRU at Chestnut Hill