December 6, 2008

FINAL SCORE: #3 Pittsburgh 80, Vermont 51
BOX SCORE
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - All-America candidates Sam Young and DeJuan Blair combined for 41 points and 25 rebounds to pace #3 Pittsburgh to an 80-51 victory over the University of Vermont men's basketball team on Saturday night at the Petersen Events Center. Junior Marqus Blakely (Metuchen, N.J.) led the Cats with 19 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, five blocks and four steals, as they fall to 4-3 with the loss.

"I was really worried going into this game, knowing how hard Pittsburgh plays. I knew they would be physical with us and we just didn't match their physicality. We also just missed open shots; I thought we had some great looks. I give them a lot of credit and this is one game for us so I hope we will bounce back and this will toughen us up for our season and goal of winning the America East," said Vermont head coach Mike Lonergan.

Pittsburgh (9-0, 0-0 Big East) took control right from the start as it opened the game scoring the first 13 points, while Vermont missed its first seven attempts from the floor. The Panthers used the three ball early as six of their first 12 makes were from behind the arc.

Pitt would make it 20-5 after a jumper by Young, but the Vermont would use a 9-3 run to cut it to 23-14 after a jumper by junior Nick Vier (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) with 7:27 left in the frame. The home team would answer right back though with an 8-0 run and score 18 of the final 22 points of the half. The Cats shot only 25 percent in the first 20 minutes of play and Pittsburgh used a 28-19 edge on the boards to take a 41-19 lead into the half.

The Panthers continued their defensive intensity and dominance of the boards in the second half, as Young scored seven of their first nine points. Pitt would lead by as many as 29 after the break.

Four Panthers reached double figures, led by Young's game-high 28 on 10-for-21 shooting. Blair, a freshmen All-America selection last season, posted his sixth double-double of the year with 13 points and 16 rebounds. Ashton Gibbs added 11 off the bench and Tyrell Biggs went for 10.

Blakely recorded season-highs for rebounds (14), assists (5) and blocks (5) for the Cats as he earned his fourth double-double of the year, all in the last five games. Sophomore Joey Accaoui (Lincoln, R.I.) was the only other Catamount in double figures with 10 off the bench, matching a season-high, on 4-for-7 shooting.

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