Panthers survive scare
PITTSBURGH — Every Pittsburgh opponent understands it must neutralize 7-footer Aaron Gray to have any chance of beating the Panthers. The problem is finding a way to do so, and no Pitt opponent has come close to accomplishing it yet.
Gray had 23 points and 13 rebounds and No. 4 Pittsburgh survived an early scare, rallying for a 66-55 win over Oakland, Mich.
Gray played less than half of Pitt's 85-68 decision Saturday over Massachusetts because of a cut lip and foul problems, but was too strong and effective around the basket for Oakland (3-2) to handle in playing all but six minutes.
Gray had 15 points in the second half as Pitt came back after trailing 33-29 at the half.
"Aaron had to play only 17 minutes (Saturday), so maybe that helped him," coach Jamie Dixon said. "We were able to execute four straight baskets to him in the second half."
The Panthers (5-0) won their first four games by an average of nearly 20 points, but were pushed for the first time this season by Oakland, which returned four of its five starters from last season. Both teams were playing their third game in three days in the Colonial Athletic Association Classic.
"We were a little fatigued, and maybe we weren't expecting them to come out quite as hard or to be as good as they were," said Levon Kendall, who had 11 points and nine rebounds.
With the 6-8 Shawn Hopes controlling Gray early, the Grizzlies — picked fifth in the Mid-Continent Conference preseason coaches poll —opened a 25-15 lead in the first half.
