Men's Basketball Defeats Arkansas-Pine Bluff 89-49
11/30/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Men's Basketball Defeats Arkansas-Pine Bluff 89-49
11/30/2002
PITTSBURGH? Five players scored in double figures to help lead No. 5 Pittsburgh to an 89-49 victory over Arkansas Pine-Bluff Saturday evening before 7,969 at the Petersen Events Center. Pittsburgh improves to 3-0 on the year while Arkansas-Pine Bluff drops to 0-4.
The Panthers pulled away from the visiting Golden Lions in the second half on a 20-0 run led by center Toree Morris. With Pittsburgh leading 44-38 with 13:09 to go, a blocked shot by Morris triggered the rally. He followed with a layup in which he was fouled, then on the next offensive series, threw down a dunk. Morris then blocked another Arkansas-Pine Bluff shot, hustled down the floor, took a pass from Brandin Knight and converted on a layup while he was fouled. After Morris hit the ensuing free throw, Julius Page canned a three-pointer and Pittsburgh led 54-38.
Pittsburgh held a 37-30 advantage at the half as Arkansas-Pine Bluff connected on eight 3-pointers.
?In the first half, we were anxious,? Pittsburgh head coach Ben Howland said. ?Anyone can beat anyone on any given night and we need to respect all of our opponents. Arkansas-Pine Bluff made some very tough shots with a hand in their face.?
Forward Chevon Troutman led the Panthers with a career-high tying 15 points and seven rebounds. Guard Julius Page added 14 points, guard Jaron Brown contributed 13 points, guard Brandin Knight scored 11 and dished out eight assists and center Toree Morris scored 10 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Forward Donatas Zavackas grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds and added eight points.
Pittsburgh outrebounded Arkansas-Pine Bluff 50-25 and shot 49.2 percent from the floor (32-65). The Panthers limited the Golden Lions to just 19 second half points and seven second half field goals. Pittsburgh connected on 20 of its 26 free throw attempts on the evening.
Pittsburgh is next in action Tuesday when it hosts Norfolk State for a 7:30 p.m. matchup.
GAME NOTES
*Pittsburgh won its ninth straight home game and registered its ninth consecutive home sellout.
*The Panthers have now won 20 consecutive regular season non-conference home games dating back to a Dec. 23, 1999 loss to Virginia Commonwealth (66-60).
*Donatas Zavackas pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds, Chevon Troutman scored a career-high tying 15 points
*With two steals tonight, Brandin Knight moved into second place on Pittsburgh?s all-time career steals list. He now has 235 steals for his career and is tied with Vonteego Cummings for second place on Pitt?s all-time career steals list. Jerry McCullough (1991-96) holds the record at 257.
*With his eight assists tonight, Brandin Knight now needs just one more assist to reach 600 career assists. Only two players in Pittsburgh basketball history have registered 600+ career assists (Sean Miller, 744 from 1987-92) and Darelle Porter (617 from 1987-91).
--30--