Pitt sophomore power forward Michael Young scored a game-high 24 points in leading the host Panthers to a 72-58 exhibition win over NCAA Division II Indiana, Pa. Friday evening at the Petersen Events Center.
Pitt’s second exhibition game is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 7 against Philadelphia University. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center. Pitt opens regular season play on Friday, Nov. 14 against Niagara at the Petersen Events Center. Tipoff for the ESPN3 contest is at 7 p.m.
Young scored 15 of his 24 points in the second half, including 11 consecutive points during an impressive three-minute scoring spree. He converted eight of his 12 field goal attempts, seven of his eight free throws and grabbed seven rebounds in 23 minutes of action. Young’s 24 points were the most scored by a Pitt player in an exhibition game since Ashton Gibbs scored 25 points vs. Northwood University, Fla. on Oct. 31, 2010.
With the score tied 22-22 with 5:09 left in the first half, Pitt took control of the game with an 8-0 run, converting eight consecutive free throws including four from Young and two apiece from sophomore Jamel Artis and junior Durand Johnson. IUP closed the deficit to three points, but junior James Robinson converted a layup and sophomore Chris Jones followed with a 3-pointer with five seconds left to give Pitt a 35-27 halftime lead.
In the second half, Pitt used a 6-0 run to push its lead to as many as 17 points (64-47) with 5:55 to play in the contest.
Young was the only Panthers player to reach double figures. Jones added nine points (three 3-pointers) and sophomore Josh Newkirk finished with eight. IUP was led by Jeremy Jeffers, who finished with 16 points and hit four 3-pointers, while Shawn Dyer scored 13.
Pitt shot just 39 percent (23-59) from the floor, but converted 76.9 percent (20-26) of its free throw attempts. IUP shot 48 percent (23-48) from the field, hit eight 3-pointers and notched assists on 17 of its 23 field goals made.
Pitt’s starters included junior center Joseph Uchebo, sophomore forwards Young and Artis, point guard Robinson and Jones. Pitt senior Cameron Wright did not play due to injury. All 15 available Pitt players saw action in the game. The two teams used a 30-second shot clock as per NCAA and ACC experimental rules.
Coached by former Pitt assistant coach Joe Lombardi (2003-06), IUP will enter its 2014-15 season ranked No. 9 nationally by The Sporting News and Basketball Times and No. 20 by Division II Bulletin. The Crimson Hawks have advanced to six consecutive NCAA Tournaments.
Pitt returns three starters and 11 letterwinners from a team that finished 26-10 overall and advanced to its 12th NCAA Tournament in the last 13 seasons. For more information and updated news on Pitt Basketball, follow twitter.com/hailtopitthoops. For more information on the Pitt basketball team check out the 2014-15 Basketball Media Guide, 2014-15 Schedule and 2014-15 Pitt Basketball Prospectus.
PITT-IUP POST-GAME NOTES
*Michael Young’s 24 points were the most scored by a Pitt player in an exhibition game since Ashton Gibbs finished with 25 points vs. Northwood University, Fla. on Oct. 31, 2010.
*Pitt has won 31 consecutive exhibition games dating back to a 92-90 loss to Marathon Oil on November 3, 1999. Pitt also owns a 25-0 exhibition game record in the Petersen Events Center. It is 21-0 vs. NCAA Division II and NAIA teams since 2004-05.
*Pitt is 55-5 all-time in exhibition games for a .917 winning percentage.
*Pitt coach Jamie Dixon owns a perfect 23-0 all-time record in exhibition games. He is 5-0 vs. IUP in exhibition games and 1-0 vs. IUP in regular season games.
*Pitt played Indiana, Pa. in an exhibition game for the fifth time since the 2005-06 season. The last time the two teams met in a regular season game was on November 22, 2008, an 86-60 Pitt Legends Classic win at the Petersen Events Center. Pitt owns an 11-0 record vs. IUP in regular season games and 5-0 mark vs. the Crimson Hawks in exhibition contests.