Men's Basketball Downs Xavier in Puerto Rico
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
November 26, 1998
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Sophomore forward Attila Cosby scored a career-high 25 points and senior guard Vonteego Cummings added 24 as Pittsburgh beat No. 13 Xavier 94-76 Thursday night in the opening round of the Puerto Rico Shootout.
The Panthers (5-0) will play No. 4 Kentucky, which beat Colorado 64-52, in Friday's semifinals.
Cosby, whose previous career-high was 21 points in the season opener against Maryland-Baltimore County, sprained his right ankle in Monday night's victory over Texas-Pan American and was considered day-to-day through Wednesday's practice.
Pittsburgh took a 47-38 halftime lead by shooting 61 percent (20-of-33), with Cosby showing no ill effects from his ankle injury as he scored 14 points.
The Panthers never allowed Xavier (3-1) to get within striking position in the first 16 minutes of the second half, keeping the lead around a comfortable 13 points as they used their size advantage inside.
The Musketeers hurt themselves by never capitalizing on turnovers to get a run going and missing six free throws over the final 6:07. Pittsburgh meanwhile sealed its win at the line by going 13-of-17 over the final 2:42.
Isaac Hawkins added 19 points for the Panthers and Jarrett Lockhart had 15.
Gary Lumpkin led the Musketeers with 17 points, while James Posey and Lloyd Price had 15 each.
By JIM O'CONNELL
AP Basketball Writer