Pitt
<2-0>
VMI
<1-1>
Offensive Explosion Powers Pitt to 94-55 Win over VMI
11/9/2018 9:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pitt senior Jared Wilson-Frame came off the bench to score a game-high 20 points as Pitt's offense flourished in a 94-55 victory over VMI on Friday night at the Petersen Events Center.
From the very beginning of the game, Wilson-Frame was a weapon from the outside. After the Keydets (1-1) scored the first basket of the game, Wilson-Frame hit a trio of 3-pointers as Pitt (2-0) raced out on a 19-3 run. He also hit a leaning, long-range three-pointer just before the first-half buzzer to send the Panthers into the break with an 18-point lead.
Wilson-Frame finished shooting 5-of-9 from three-point range and 6-of-10 overall. It was the fifth time he scored 20 points or more in his Pitt career.
The Panthers earned their most lopsided win since a 100-47 drubbing of Central Arkansas on Dec. 6, 2015. Pitt also shot 63.5 percent from the field (33-of-52), its best mark since finishing at 64.4 percent against Rice on Dec. 17, 2016, and converted 13-of-25 attempts from beyond the arc (52.0 percent).
Pitt received significant contributions from its freshmen. Xavier Johnson scored 14 points and added 10 assists for his first career double-double, and Au'Diese Toney also posted 14 to go with a team-high eight rebounds.
Using an aggressive style of basketball under first-year head coach Jeff Capel, the Panthers dominated the specialty stats, outscoring the Keydets in fastbreak points (22-8), points in the paint (38-24) and points off turnovers (26-14).
Led by Wilson-Frame and sophomore Khameron Davis, who scored 11 points with five rebounds, Pitt's bench posted a huge 54-5 advantage over VMI.
BIG PICTURE
Pitt played with a full roster after Wilson-Frame was suspended for the season opener. He worked into the rotation off the bench, with Toney starting for the second straight game. Wilson-Frame played 23 minutes, while Toney played 22.
VMI continued its early season proclivity to look for the long ball. The Keydets attempted 31 three-pointers in its season opener and launched another 25. They've done so despite the absence of starting guards Austin Vereen (wrist) and Jordan Ratliffe (knee).
UP NEXT
Pitt will continue its five-game homestand against Troy on Monday.
VMI will host Division III Goucher College on Sunday.
