Pitt
Detroit
Pittsburgh Defeats Detroit, 95-79
11/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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PITTSBURGH - Pitt used a 28-6 second-half run to seize control of the game and cruise to a 95-79 win over Detroit Friday night at the Petersen Events Center. Michael Young led four Pittsburgh players in double-figures with a game-high 21 points, while Ryan Luther came off the bench to post his first career double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
"Last year, we didn't have a deep rotation and this year we have a really deep rotation, so I love it," said Young. "I love having people that can come in and contribute. I really like this group, and I think this group is special. So, to be able to go out there and play and have another opportunity to go out there with this team is special to me."
Pitt jumped out to an early 13-point lead before Detroit climbed back into the contest on the shoulders of Anton Wilson. The Panthers held a 46-41 halftime lead following a putback basket at the buzzer by Rafael Maia, despite Wilson knocking down four three-point field goals and finishing the half with 20 points.
Detroit opened the second half on a 12-6 run to take its only lead of the game with 15:23 to play. The Titans were 6-of-9 from the field during the opening minutes of the second half. Freshman Damon Wilson erased the deficit on Pitt's ensuing possession with a three-point field goal that ignited a 28-6 run by the Panthers.
Pitt with a help of a new-look zone defense limited Detroit to only six made shots and 30.8 percent shooting, while outscoring the Titans 46-23 during the game's final 15 minutes of play. Detroit went 6-of-11 from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes, but was held to 0-of-8 shooting from deep in the second half of play.
"The group that we had in there early when it happened was long at pretty much every position, and I think that is a big part of any good zone," said head coach Jamie Dixon. "We worked on it a lot and we got on the shooters and they seemed to have to drive it a little bit more as the half progressed to get into the lane, making them change their attack. I think we made them take contested jump shots and we didn't let them get into the paint which was big for us. I think we got some deflections and we got some steals and we didn't get hurt on the glass out of the zone which was the most important thing for us."
The Panthers led by as many as 27 points before a late run by Detroit trimmed the margin to 16 points.
Young shot 7-of-9 from the field and made all seven of his free throw attempts to pace the offensive attack, while Luther and Artis each netted 15 points. After a foul-plagued opening half Sheldon Jeter scored 10 points in the second half of play.
"It was fun," said Luther. "Like I said, defense got me going first and then I was able make plays when I saw them. Setting up screens is mostly how I got open. It was just fun going out there and playing."
Pitt got terrific production off the bench for the second straight game as the Panther reserves combined for 50 points with double-figure scoring efforts out of Luther and Jeter. The Panthers are now averaging 47.0 points per game off the bench through two contests.
Pitt returns to action Wednesday, Nov. 25 against Cornell at the Petersen Events Center (7 p.m. - ESPN3).
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