Men's Basketball Edges Texas Pan-American
11/23/1998 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Greer and the Panthers down |
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Ricardo Greer scored 22 points and had 11 rebounds Monday to lead the University of Pittsburgh to a 79-71 win over Texas Pan-American.
Isaac Hawkins added 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Panthers (4-0) and Vonteego Cummings finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and just one turnover despite playing with a broken left hand.
The Panthers made just 34.4 percent of their shots (22-for-64), but they took advantage of 30 more free throws and made 21 more than Texas Pan American.
"We really struggled from the floor, especially inside the arc," Willard said. "We missed a lot of easy shots inside, including some shots that were hanging on the rim. It was just one of those nights."
The Broncos (0-4) led by as much as four, 54-50, on John Braxton's 3-pointer with 11:52 remaining. But Pittsburgh got two 3-point baskets from Fred Primus, one by Cummings and shot 14 of 19 free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.
"Coach said they would be a feisty team, and they were," Greer said. "But I don't think we thought this game would be this close. But they gave us a tough game."
Brian Merriweather led Texas Pan-American with 25 points, including five 3-pointers. Larry Jackson added 13 points, while Larry Gibbs and Lalo Rios scored 11 points each. Rios also had 10 assists, but had nine turnovers.
The Panthers forward Attila Cosby left the game with a sprained right ankle.
Pittsburgh is off to its best start under fifth-year coach Ralph Willard. The last time the Panthers opened with four straight wins was 1993, the final season for Paul Evans.
Pittsburgh next plays on Thanksgiving in Puerto Rico in the San Juan Shootout. The Panthers face 13th-ranked Xavier at 4 p.m. EST. Defending NCAA champ Kentucky, Maryland, UCLA, Colorado, American and San Francisco also are in the three-day tournament.