University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
3-0,0-0ACC
Eastern Michigan
1-1,0-0MAC
Pitt Uses Early Surge To Stay Unbeaten In 78-66 Win Over EMU
11/10/2025 10:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – The Pitt men's basketball team wasted little time seizing momentum Monday night, jumping on Eastern Michigan early and managing the game the rest of the way in a 78-66 win at Petersen Events Center.
Playing without leading scorer Brandin Cummings, Pitt built a 27-10 lead behind a balanced effort from its starting lineup and bench unit. Seven different players scored at least seven points, led by 16 from senior Cameron Corhen and a career-best 15 from freshman Omari Witherspoon.
Eastern Michigan scored the first four points of the game but the Eagles' lead was short-lived. Pitt responded with a season-long stretch of 11 unanswered points to take a 16-6 lead, part of a larger 22-4 run that put the Panthers ahead 27-10.
Although Eastern Michigan trimmed the deficit to single-digits once, Pitt closed the half by scoring six of the final eight points for a 45-32 advantage.
EMU again got to within single digits by opening the second half with four straight points, but Witherspoon answered with one of his two three-pointers, and the Eagles trailed by double-figures the rest of the way.
Damarco Minor directed the offense efficiently for the Panthers, finishing the game with 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals, while turning the ball over just twice in 38 minutes of game action.
Roman Siulepa added 11 points, five rebounds and a steal, scoring seven early points as Pitt built its initial cushion. Nojus Indrusaitis, who made his first career start in place of Cummings, finished with nine points, three rebounds and an assist. Papa Amadou Kante had eight points, five rebounds and a steal, while Barry Dunning, Jr. recorded seven points, six rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot.
Pitt shot 50 percent from the field and held Eastern Michigan to just 37 percent. The Panthers struggled at the free-throw line, converting just 12-of-23 (52.2 percent), but had 14 assists, a season-low eight turnovers and a 38-36 rebounding advantage.
Pitt improves to 3-0 with the win and Eastern Michigan falls to 1-1. The Panthers head on the road for the first time this season, visiting 3-0 West Virginia on Thursday, Nov. 13, for the 192nd edition of the Backyard Brawl. Tip is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on FS1.
