Pittsburgh Wins Season Opener
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
November 13, 1998
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Attila Cosby blocked a school-record seven shots and Kellii Taylor scored 21 points, including 15 on 3-pointers, as Pittsburgh opened with an 84-56 win Friday over Maryland-Baltimore County.
The Panthers (1-0) won without Vonteego Cummings, who has a broken bone in his left hand.
Cosby had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Pittsburgh, which plays St. Francis, Pa., on Tuesday, led 41-34 at the half and started the second half with a 24-3 run.
Taylor made five of eight 3-pointers. Isaac Hawkins had 19 points for Pittsburgh and made eight of 13 shots. Pittsburgh made 51 percent of its shots in its earliest home opener ever.
For UMBC, Kennedy Okafor and Nick Grella had 14 points each.
The Retrievers shot only 40 percent, including 18 percent from 3-point range, and were closest at a 16-16 tie midway through the first half. Rich Giddens missed all six of his 3-pointers, and Terence Ward was two for eight from long range.
Cummings may also miss the St. Francis game. The Panthers also face Prairie View, Howard and Texas-Pan American as preparation for their Big East schedule.