Men’s Basketball: Panthers win after giving up just six first-half points

The Pitt men’s basketball team held Coker College to just six first-half points as the… The Pitt men’s basketball team held Coker College to just six first-half points as the Panthers rolled to an 83-40 victory yesterday to conclude their exhibition season.

While it did hit two free throws, Coker didn’t make a shot from the floor until 3:55 remained in the first half. By then Pitt already built up a 32-4 lead.

Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said he saw development in his team after issuing a challenge of Sunday-to-Sunday improvement after last week’s 75-64 exhibition victory over Slippery Rock.

“We moved the ball better today,” Dixon said. “We stressed penetration to kick-out instead of forcing drives and playing in crowds. I think that was our biggest adjustment.”

The Panthers shot nearly 55 percent from the floor for the game to Coker’s 30.8 percent.

Despite the score discrepancy during the game, point guard Travon Woodall said the Panthers remained focused on their effectiveness.

“We aren’t really looking at the score,” Woodall said. “These games help us to prepare for the season, so we’re focused on offensive and defensive execution.”

Woodall led the Panthers with 21 points and three assists, shooting 8-of-10 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.

Among the highlights from his performance was a combination fast break with teammates Brad Wanamaker and Talib Zanna during the first half.

After Zana stole the ball, he passed to Wanamaker who sent a behind-the-back bounce pass to Woodall for a lay-up finish that stretched the Panther lead to 22-2.

Despite his offensive success, Woodall said he wished he accumulated as many assists as points.

“I’ve been talking to Levance [Fields] a little bit, he’s like a mentor to me,” Woodall said. “It’s kind of like how Brandin [Knight] was to him. I’ve worked hard all summer, so hopefully it pays off.”

Gary McGhee was the only other Pitt player to reach double figures with 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting and 5-of-8 from the foul line.

“Gary’s a hard worker, he always has been,” Dixon said. “He’s a kid that is seizing the opportunity and improved. We have a history of our big guys improving.”

Every Pitt player saw floor time, with Wanamaker, Chase Adams and Dante Taylor each adding eight points. All but one Panther, freshman J.J. Richardson, who didn’t take any shots, scored during the game.

The Cobras finished the game with 20 turnovers to seven assists, including 15 turnovers and no assists at the half. Pitt gained 24 points off Coker turnovers.

The first half sealed the game for the Panthers, as Coker shot 12.5 percent from the floor, including 0-of-5 from beyond the arc.

Coker’s 16 shot attempts in the first half totaled fewer than Pitt’s 17 made baskets as the Panthers went into the break with a 41-6 lead.

“If we learn something, then it was a good experience,” Coker coach Dan Schmotzer said. “We’ve played a lot of D-1 teams, but we’ve never played one of this caliber. We’re grateful for the experience.”

Schmotzer said the Panthers’ depth and quickness in the post was too much for his team to handle. He noticed improvement in Woodall and McGhee from last year, and said Taylor, Pitt’s McDonald’s All-American freshman, has the potential to be special.

One of the few statistical categories that remained close was rebounds, with Pitt only out-rebounding the Cobras 38-32. Dixon said that was a concern and wants to see rebounding improvement from the Panthers’ frontcourt.

Another negative for Pitt was when power forward Nasir Robinson left the game with 13:46 remaining in the first half and didn’t return. Dixon said the starter dislocated either the middle or ring finger on his left hand but should be able to play in Pitt’s season opener on Friday.

Dwight Miller, who led the Panthers with eight rebounds, started the second half in place of Robinson.

The Panthers open up their season Friday against Wofford at the Petersen Events Center at 8:10 p.m. If the team continues at its current pace, it expects to be even better by then.

“The team is improving everyday,” Woodall said. “We are staying together and helping each other out.”