Men's Basketball Falls at #5 Pittsburgh, 74-53
1/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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PITTSBURGH, PA. - Junior Herb Pope (Aliquippa, Pa.) logged a double-double in a return to his hometown area, but it was not enough as Pittsburgh downed the Seton Hall men's basketball team, 74-53, on Saturday.
Pope's game included his fourth double-double of the season with team-highs of 15 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high six blocked shots. Senior Jeremy Hazell (Harlem, N.Y.), playing in only his second game since returning from a two-month absence with a broken left wrist, scored just nine points.
Hazell connected on a three-pointer to give Seton Hall an early 7-6 lead, but Pittsburgh's Travon Woodall hit a three-pointer of his own on the ensuing possession to put the Panthers back on top, 9-7. Woodall's bucket ignited an 8-0 Pittsburgh run to give the Panthers a large early lead, 14-7, with 11:26 to go before halftime.
Senior Jeff Robinson (Trenton, N.J.) scored to cut the Panthers lead to seven points, but Pittsburgh went on another run, this time of the 11-3 variety, to give them a 29-14 lead with just 3:36 remaining in the first half.
The teams traded baskets in the closing minutes of the first half and Pittsburgh carried a 33-18 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Herb Pope led the Pirates at the half with team-highs of seven points and six rebounds. Gary McGee led the Panthers with 10 points.
The shooting percentages weren't dramatically different, but Pittsburgh out-rebounded the Pirates, 26-to-14, in the first half.
Seton Hall came out in the second half shooting better, but Pittsburgh did as well. Through the first nine minutes of the second half, the Pirates' deficit was the same as it was at the half, 15 points at 51-36.
Pittsburgh's Ashton Gibbs hit a three-pointer with 7:50 remaining in regulation to give the Panthers a commanding 60-40 lead. In the closing minutes of the game, Seton Hall would not mount a comeback.
The teams shot nearly identical from the field as Pittsburgh edged the Pirates, 41.7%-to-41.2%, but it was on the glass that Seton Hall felt a mismatch. The Panthers out-rebounded the Pirates, 51-to-27.
Gary McGee led Pittsburgh with team-highs of 13 points and 10 rebounds.
The Pirates will return to action on Tuesday, January 19 when they host #22 Georgetown. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
