Pittsburgh, Pa. - A trio of three-pointers in consecutive possessions helped No. 5 Pittsburgh break open a tight game en route to a 74-53 win over the Robert Morris University men's basketball team Tuesday night at the Petersen Events Center.
RMU slips to 2-2 overall on the 2010-11 campaign with the defeat, while the Panthers stay perfect and improve to 6-0.
Redshirt sophomore guard Velton Jones (Philadelphia, Pa. / Northeast Catholic) pulled the Colonials within five, 44-39, at the 10:53 mark of the second half by hitting the front end of a pair of free throws, which capped an 11-2 run from Robert Morris.
However, three-pointers by Gilbert Brown, Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker in consecutive possessions helped Pitt open up a 53-41 advantage and take control. The barrage from beyond the arc was part of a 14-2 run for Pittsburgh.
RMU went just 5-for-22 from the field in the final 10:09 of action.
Pitt jumped out to leads of 6-0, 14-7 and 24-11 in the first half, but a 10-2 spurt helped the Colonials trim their deficit to 26-21 with 4:22 left before intermission. Redshirt sophomore forward Russell Johnson (Chester, Pa. / Chester) and freshman guard Elton Roy (Houston, Texas / Yates) each scored five points to bolster Robert Morris.
The Panthers got their lead back to double digits, 31-21, thanks to five straight points from Wanamaker, but RMU was able to pull to within five at the break, 33-28, thanks to a three-pointer from Johnson and a layup from freshman forward Yann Charles (Longueuil, Quebec / Champlain St. Albert).
In the opening minutes of the second half five points from Gibbs, a jumper from Brown and a pair of free throws by Wanamaker quickly pushed Pitt's lead back to double digits, 42-28.
Robert Morris responded with an 11-2 run to close within five, 44-39, as five different Colonials scored, including a three-pointer from Roy and three points from Jones, before the Panthers took control.
Johnson tied career highs in both points (15) and rebounds (12) to pace RMU, recording his second double-double in four games this season and the fourth of his career. He also added an assist, block and steal.
In his first collegiate start redshirt freshman Coron Williams (Midlothian, Va. / Christchurch School) finished with eight points, while Charles and Roy each scored eight points. Jones added seven points, five rebounds, five assists, a block and a steal for RMU.
Gibbs scored 16 of his game-high 20 points in the second half to lead four Panthers in double figures scoring as Wanamaker added 17 points and Brown and Gary McGhee 11 each. McGhee finished with a game-high 12 rebounds.
RMU continues a five-game road trip Monday, Nov. 29, with a 6:00 p.m. tilt against Cleveland State in Cleveland, Ohio.
Notes: Sophomore guard Karon Abraham (Paterson, N.J. / Harp Academy) did not play due to a violation of team rules ... RMU was outrebounded for the first time on the 2010-11 season as Pitt held a 51-36 edge on the glass ... The Colonials outrebounded the Panthers on the offensive boards, 17-16 ... Robert Morris finished with 15 assists against eight turnovers and recorded five blocks and five steals ... Pitt posted 17 assists against 15 turnovers and had three blocks and four thefts ... Robert Morris shot just 30.9 percent (21-for-68) from the field, including 25.7 percent (9-for-35) in the second half ... A three-pointer from Williams at the 16:11 mark of the first half extended RMU's streak of at least one three-pointer in 500 consecutive games.
