Pitt pulls away from YSU

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

The Penguins and Panthers played evenly for three-fourths of the contest

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

PITTSBURGH — For nearly 30 minutes, the Youngstown State men’s basketball team played on even terms with the University of Pittsburgh Saturday at the Peterson Events Center.

But in the final 10 minutes, the Penguins (3-3) couldn’t match the Panthers (5-1) and suffered a 72-56 defeat before 10,135 fans.

With about 11 minutes remaining, the Penguins were deadlocked with Pitt, 42-42. The Panthers then reeled off 10 unanswered points and the Penguins never got closer than nine points the rest of the way.

“I thought we played a very good first 30 minutes of basketball today, but the last 10 weren’t very good,” YSU head coach Jerry Slocum said.

“We executed very well in the first half, but we didn’t in the second half and we missed way too many free throws once again,” Slocum said.

“I’m obviously disappointed because we just didn’t finish the game and now we have to go right into conference play next week and we’d better be ready,” Slocum said,

The loss was the sixth to the Panthers in the seven-game series and the third in a row. YSU’s only win in the series came in 1976. This was the first meeting since the 2003 campaign and the first under Slocum.

YSU finished with two players in double figures led by senior Kelvin Bright with 20 points. Senior DeAndre Mays finished with 16 points.

Pitt, which was coming of its first loss of the season last week against Texas, had four players in double figures. Two finished with double-doubles for the game.

Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker each scored 14 points, while 6-foot-10 junior Gary McGhee had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Nasir Robinson added 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The Panthers dominated the boards, holding a 38-22 advantage. YSU senior Dallas Blocker led the Penguins with six rebounds.

Once again, the Penguins couldn’t connect at the foul line making just 9-of-17. The Panthers didn’t shoot a whole lot better, but made 23 of 32.

Pitt shot 51.2 percent from the field hitting on 22-of-43 shots, while the Penguins, who shot 50 percent in the opening half, finished 21-of-51 for 41.2 percent.

YSU made 13 turnovers and forced Pitt into 17 mistakes.

The Penguins jumped out to the early lead, pulling away to a 10-5 lead on two 3-point shots by Mays and two baskets by Bright.

Pitt tied the game at 10-10 and the Penguins’ last lead was at 13-11 on a 3-pointer by junior Vytas Sulskis with about 14 minutes remaining in the first half.

The Panthers never relinquished the lead again, but the Penguins never let them get too far ahead.

Pitt’s biggest lead of the half was nine points 28-19, but the Penguins cut that down to two points, 30-28, with 2:16 before intermission on a basket by senior Zach Rebillot.

Pitt led 34-28 at halftime.

YSU scored the first five points of the second half on a jump shot by senior Sirlester Martin and a 3-point shot by Sulskis to get within one point.

YSU never regained the lead, but with 12:15 remaining, the Penguins tied the score on a 3-point shot by Bright and a free throw by sophomore Vance Cooksey.

The Panthers took over, getting eight points from Gibbs including back-to-back 3-pointers. Pitt’s 10-0 run gave the Panthers command 52-42. The Penguins were never able to recover.

Pitt’s biggest lead was 18 points, which it had several times over the final eight minutes.

The Penguins will continue on the road this week when they travel to Detroit for the Horizon League opener on Thursday in a 7:05 tip-off. The Penguins will follow that on Saturday in a 7 p.m. league contest at Wright State.

mollica@vindy.com.