PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Privateers did not attempt a free throw in the first half and the University of Pittsburgh (9-3) shot 95.7 percent from the charity stripe in a 99-57 victory over the University of New Orleans (5-5) Thursday evening at the Petersen Events Center.
"We defended very well early, but it was a tough game for us," said head coach
Mark Slessinger. "They were able to stretch their lead at a key time. There were many short segments where I felt proud of our team and other times, I was disappointed with our effort stopping transition points and second chance opportunities for Pitt."
All in all, the Panthers went 22-of-23 from the free throw line and UNO was 8-of-11 in the second half.
Bryson Robinson led the Privateers with 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting off the bench and
Damion Rosser and
Gerrale Gates collected 10 points apiece. Rosser swiped three passes and
Lamont Berzat led all players with four steals.
"We have to be tougher and manage the clock better but there were times I was very pleased with our team. I'm relentlessly positive and we will build on the good from tonight and fix the bad. We've been top 10 in toughest nonconference schedule in the last three seasons and these games help prepare us for conference. I'm not going into our break down. We've had a lot of young guys get experience against a tough nonconference schedule and we will continue to get better."
FIRST HALF
Scott Plaisance Jr. won the opening tip and Berzat found Rosser for an alley-oop seconds into the game.
Foul trouble (10 UNO fouls to Pitt's two) and turnovers (eight) plagued the Privateers early and Pitt took a 30-20 lead into the under-eight media despite UNO shooting 52.9 percent from the floor. The Panthers were at the bonus with 10 minutes remaining in the half
A 10-0 Panthers run extended Pittsburgh's lead to 22 with 2:49 to go in the first. UNO was held scoreless for five minutes before a second chance rebound by
Larry Robinson III led to a Plaisance Jr. layup off the
Jahmel Myers pass with 1:26 remaining.
At the break, Pitt led 52-26. The Panthers went 13-of-14 from the charity stripe at the half while the Privateers did not attempt a free throw. Pittsburgh collected nine offensive rebounds (21 total) and made the most of UNO's miscues with 19 points off 12 turnovers. In transition, UP scored 20 fast break points.
For UNO, Gates and Plaisance Jr. led the way with six points apiece and Gates added three rebounds.
SECOND HALF
Plaisance Jr. continued to play aggressive despite the three fouls with a dunk on one end and a block on the other that led to a Rosser layup. The early surge by the Privateers forced a timeout by Pitt head coach Jeff Capel. UNO began the half 4-of-6 from the field.
At the under-16 media, UNO trailed 56-34 with Pitt going 17-of-18 from the line on UNO's 17 fouls. The Panthers committed four and held the Privateers without a free throw attempt until the 14:40 marker.
Pitt improved to 7-1 at home with the 99-57 win over the Privateers.
INSIDE THE BOX
Pittsburgh shot 51.5 percent from the floor and scored 32 points off turnovers. Three players surpassed 20 points with Trey McGowens leading the way with 24 points. Xavier Johnson added 21 points, six assists and a steal and Au'Diese Toney posted 20 points and eight rebounds. The trio combined to go 21-22 from the charity stripe.
NEXT UP
Following the holiday break, the Privateers head to Waco, Texas to face Baylor University December 29 in the final nonconference game of the season. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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