(BCSNN) — You can't keep the Panthers down. Even playing without leading scorer Brandin Cummings, Pitt men’s basketball was able to lean on its depth and early momentum to defeat Eastern Michigan, 78–66, Monday night at Petersen Events Center. The Panthers improved to 3–0 on the season.
Seven different players scored at least seven points for Pitt, led by senior Cameron Corhen with 16 and freshman Omari Witherspoon with a career-best 15. Damarco Minor filled the stat sheet with 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and four steals while committing just two turnovers in 38 minutes.
Eastern Michigan (1–1) scored the game’s first four points, but Pitt responded with an 11–0 run and later extended it to 22–4 to take a 27–10 lead. The Eagles trimmed the deficit to single digits twice, but Witherspoon’s timely three-pointers helped Pitt maintain control.
Roman Siulepa added 11 points and five rebounds, while Nojus Indrusaitis contributed nine points in his first career start. Papa Amadou Kante and Barry Dunning Jr. combined for 15 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.
Pitt shot 50% from the field and held EMU to 37%. Despite converting just 52.2% from the free-throw line (12-of-23), the Panthers recorded 14 assists, a season-low eight turnovers, and a 38–36 edge on the glass.
The biggest challenge of the season so far awaits Pitt, with the Panthers traveling to Morgantown to face West Virginia (3–0) in the 192nd edition of the Backyard Brawl on Thursday, Nov. 13. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. ET on FS1. And we'll be talking about that one live on BCSNN as the action happens.
