Pitt opens basketball season with 93-62 exhibition victory against Point Park

Pitt’s game against Point Park on Tuesday night was only an exhibition.

There were more empty seats inside Petersen Events Center than those that were filled, the arena lacked most of the energy it has generated for ACC games the past two seasons and the decision — a 93-62 Pitt victory — won’t count in the Panthers’ won-loss record.

Still, coach Jeff Capel admitted his players were nervous in their first action against players in another uniform. Truth be told, this is a new Pitt team unaccustomed to meshing together in anything but a practice. Seven of the 11 scholarship players who logged minutes were either injured for most of last season or part of other teams.

It took some time for the Panthers to assert their dominance against Point Park, a school that had been successful in the NAIA — 53-10 the past two seasons — and is getting ready for its first season of provisional membership in Division II.

Pitt never trailed, but with 8 minutes, 26 seconds left in the first half, the Panthers’ led only, 24-23, on their way to a 50-42 halftime lead.

”We had some jitters,” Capel said. “It was the first time with this group in front of people. One of the things I know from being a former player, when you’re excited like that, sometimes you get tired very quickly. And I thought we looked a little bit tired early, just because of the excitement of playing someone else, people being in the stands, the score, the refs, all of those things.

“They really played well in the first half,” Pitt’s coach said of the visiting Pioneers. “Made some tough shots and they played with a great spirit.”

Finally, Pitt got its fast break in sync and found its shooting stroke, finishing with a percentage of 48.6 (34 of 70). Pitt’s superior athleticism took over in the second half when Point Park scored only 12 points in the first 15 minutes after halftime.

With the season starting for real Nov. 4 against Radford, Capel’s objective Tuesday was to see how his team reacted — as he explained it — “when the lights come on, when there are people in the stands.”

”All the things you try to work on in practice, are you doing those things? In the first half, we didn’t close out right,” Capel said. “Our transition defense wasn’t what it needs to be. They were able to drive and make some plays. We didn’t finish plays.”

Yet there were several individual highlights.

Guards Ishmael Leggett and Jaland Lowe built solid stat lines. Leggett scored 24 points, missed only one of nine shots, grabbed nine rebounds and handed out five assists. Lowe added 22 points, four steals and perfection from the foul line (eight of eight).

Leggett, a senior, said he is embracing a leadership role held by Blake Hinson the past two seasons.

“I’m ready to take on every aspect of leadership, honestly whether it be vocal, on the court, off the court, making sure the guys are straight,” he said.

On the court, Leggett and Lowe will share most of the distribution duties.

”Our chemistry is great and we can build off of it,” he said of his relationship with Lowe. “We have a knack for each other. Sometimes, he pushes it. Sometimes, I push it.

”We looked good, but we can be much better,” he said, speaking of the team as a unit. “I can’t wait to see what the season holds.”

Pitt also received scoring punch inside — something it had been lacking the past two seasons — when Florida State transfer Cam Corhen, a 6-foot-10, 235-pounder, recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Corhen scored only two points in the first half before he locked eyes with Capel at halftime.

“He looked at me in my eyes and said, ‘You need to make your presence felt.’ It was good to come out and get the jitters out. I feel like I have a lot more role in the offense (than he had at Florida State).”

Capel used all 11 healthy scholarship players. Freshman Brandin Cummings (Lincoln Park) was the fourth-leading scorer with eight points in a little more than 17 minutes.

Freshman Amsal Delalic, a 6-8 guard from Bosnia and Herzegovina, did not play while recovering from a hand injury.

“He’ll be checked out (by a doctor) Thursday,” Capel said. “I do know the cast is smaller. He can at least catch the basketball now. Hopefully, he’ll be out of the cast and maybe in a soft splint. He’s working. Hopefully, we have him back for the opener.”