Pitt tunes up against over-matched Tartans

Pitt basketball opened its 2006-07 campaign with a victory Wednesday, thumping the… Pitt basketball opened its 2006-07 campaign with a victory Wednesday, thumping the Division-III Carnegie Mellon Tartans 103-45 in an exhibition contest at the Petersen Events Center.

The Panthers, ranked No. 5 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, pounced on the Tartans early, sprinting into halftime with a 48-17 lead. Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon played 13 players and the Panther bench produced 42 points and 37 rebounds.

Pitt plays the second of its two exhibition games Saturday at 7:30 p.m. against California (Pa.), before traveling to West Point, N.Y., to play Western Michigan in the Maggie Dixon Classic on Nov. 12 at noon.

“We did the things we wanted in this game,” Dixon said. “I thought we passed the ball well, we found a lot of open guys. We got to spread the minutes out. Everybody was able to get comfortable out there.”

Pitt opened up a 21-2 lead in less than eight minutes and never trailed, using 16-0 and 15-2 runs to separate from Carnegie Mellon.

“Pitt was certainly as good as we thought they were going to be,” Carnegie Mellon head coach Tony Wingen said. “They played as well as their ranking.”

The Panthers’ defense held Carnegie Mellon to 21.4-percent shooting, forcing 14 turnovers. Pitt out-rebounded the Tartans, 66-37, including an advantage on the Carnegie Mellon glass, where the Panthers’ offensive rebounds outnumbered the Tartans’ defensive boards, 22-21.

“Obviously, we wanted to win the battle on the boards,” Dixon said. “We had a size advantage and we took advantage of that.”

Big East Preseason Player of the Year Aaron Gray grabbed 15 total rebounds, adding 12 points for his 19th double-double in a Pitt uniform. The 7-footer helped Pitt tally 44 points in the paint.

Pitt senior guard Antonio Graves netted a game-high 17 points while adding five rebounds, three assists and three steals in the win. Graves scored 31 points in Saturday’s Blue-Gold Scrimmage, prompting Dixon’s recognition of the Ohio native’s senior mentality.

“Antonio had a great summer both on the court and in the classroom,” Dixon said. “He’s demonstrated to everyone that he’s ready to be a leader on this team.”

Junior Mike Cook added 16 points in his first game as a Pitt Panther. Cook, who transferred from East Carolina before the 2004-05 season, started the game and played 19 minutes.

“It felt good to finally get out there and play in front of the fans,” Cook said. “I was a little nervous at first, but I got comfortable really fast. It was great to just get out there and be part of this team.”

Sophomore Tyrell Biggs came off the bench and delivered a double-double in 21 minutes of play, contributing 11 points and 14 rebounds at both the center and power forward positions.

“Tyrell dropped 20 pounds and had a really great off-season,” Dixon said. “He’s always improving and showing his versatility.”

Sophomore Sam Young played 15 minutes in the win, totaling 14 points and five rebounds at both the small and power forward positions. The 2005-06 Big East All-Rookie-Team selection is still nursing a banged up knee from the Blue-Gold Scrimmage last weekend.

“I think versatility is one of the keys and strengths of this team,” Dixon said. “I’m confident that we have 10 guys who could start. Depending on the situations, we could have nights where the bench guys get even more minutes than the starters.”

Junior guard Ronald Ramon played 18 minutes, starting at point guard after missing the Blue-Gold Scrimmage with an ankle sprain. The 6-1 New Yorker scored 11 points and added six assists.

Guards Levance Fields and Keith Benjamin combined for 11 points, seven rebounds and seven assists off the bench.

Freshman Austin Wallace played 10 minutes, hauling in three rebounds while spelling Gray.

“It was good to get Austin some minutes,” Dixon said. “He keeps improving and he works hard. He knows he can improve here when he sees how much Aaron [Gray] and Antonio [Graves] have improved.”

NOTES: Freshman Gilbert Brown did not play because of mononucleosis. Dixon does not expect the 6-6 wing guard to play Saturday