Pitt routs S.C. State
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon is getting production from one of his promising young big men.
It’s just not the one everybody thought.
Talib Zanna had 12 points and 14 rebounds to help the 15th-ranked Panthers ease by South Carolina State 69-55 on Saturday night, proving life should be just fine without highly touted freshman Khem Birch, who left the team this week to return to his native Canada.
Dixon declined to get into the specifics about Birch’s decision, adding there’s little chance of the 6-foot-9 center returning.
“We wish him well,” Dixon said. “We’re moving forward.”
The development of Zanna and Lamar Patterson helps.
Patterson tied a career high with 16 points and Zanna provided a steadying presence in the middle after starters Nasir Robinson and Dante Taylor dealt with foul trouble.
“In the preseason he was our best big guy,” Dixon said of Zanna. “He’s given us very good minutes. I’m very comfortable with him and what he’s doing. He’s going to have some big games.”
The Panthers (10-1) needed Zanna to be effective to win their eighth straight. South Carolina State (4-7) kept things interesting well into the second half behind guards Brandon Riley and Khalif Toombs.
Riley scored 17 of his 21 points in the first half and Toombs added 16 points while making all four of his 3-pointers as the Bulldogs proved to be a tough out, slowing the game down to limit possessions and keeping the hot-shooting Panthers in check.
Pitt came in making nearly 44 percent of its 3-pointers this season, sixth-best in the country, but went just 5 of 23 from 3-point range against South Carolina State’s unorthodox zone defense.
Ashton Gibbs made just 2 of 12 shots from behind the arc but finished with 14 points and six assists while filling in at point guard for injured starter Travon Woodall.
“He’s playing probably too many minutes given the situation,” Dixon said of Gibbs. “But he makes everybody better. The other guys play better when Ashton is in there.”
