Sports

Wilson-Frame's hot second half leads Pitt past McNeese State

Pittsburgh's Peace Ilegomah (42) and McNeese State's Stephen Ugochukwu battle for a rebound in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jared Wilson-Frame scored 19 points to lead Pittsburgh to a 72-51 win over McNeese State on Saturday afternoon.

Both teams struggled from the floor in the first half when they went a combined 15 for 65 (23 percent). McNeese State took a 10-3 lead and it took the Panthers (6-5) much of the first half to battle back.

Wilson-Frame, a junior college product in his first Division I season, was 5 of 7 from 3-point range and 7 of 11 overall, thanks to a second-half run. Sixteen of his points came after the break.

Pittsburgh's shots started to fall in the second half and the team pulled ahead. They went 16 of 27 from the floor and 8 of 14 from beyond the arc after the break.

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James Harvey led the Cowboys (2-7) with 14 points. Quatarrius Wilson had 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Pitt senior forward Ryan Luther missed the game with a right foot injury. It's the same foot that Luther injured last season, when he missed 12 games with a stress fracture. Luther is averaging a double-double on the season with 12.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He is Pitt's leader in points, rebounds, blocks and steals.

BIG PICTURE

McNeese State will only have one chance this regular season to face a major-conference opponent, and the Cowboys acquitted themselves well. Coming off back-to-back losses to Louisiana-Lafayette and North Texas, the Cowboys got off to a hot start, leading until the 10:44 mark of the first half and keeping the Panthers within 13 points throughout.

Pitt's young team features seven freshmen and just two seniors, so playing without Luther provided the Panthers with a glimpse of the future, especially at forward. Freshman Terrell Brown made his fourth career start and played a career-high 24 minutes and grabbed seven rebounds.

UP NEXT

McNeese State returns home to face Texas College on Tuesday. The Cowboys are undefeated at home this year, but have played just two games there, starting the year with seven of their first nine on the road.

Pitt continues a nine-game homestand with a game against Delaware State on Tuesday. The Hornets have not beaten a Division I opponent this season.