PITTSBURGH — Pitt finally proved that they could put a team away on Saturday, with the Panthers improving to 2-4 by rolling over Lehigh, 80-68 at Petersen Events Center.
The Panthers got huge days from senior Ryan Luther and Jonathan Milligan, while shaking off the pair of losses suffered in the Legends Classic in Brooklyn earlier in the week.
Pitt shot 51 percent from the floor while Milligan played a career-high 29 minutes and had a career-high 16 points. Milligan and freshman Marcus Carr continued to share the duties at the point, with Milligan taking his largest role of the season on Saturday. He had 16 points and three assists.
Inside, Luther dominated against a small Mountain Hawks lineup, recording his third double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Parker Stewart emerged as a capable 3-point option, hitting 4 of 7 off the bench for a career-high 12 points. Kene Chukwuka also had a career high with seven points. Three Pitt players set career highs in points.
The Panthers’ 12-point margin of victory is the most for the team since Feb. 18 against Florida State.
The game was Pitt’s first in an eight-game stretch where the won’t leave the confines of the city. They play High Point on Tuesday, the City Game on Friday, Mount. St. Mary’s and West Virginia next week, then finish the non-conference with McNeese State, Delaware State and Towson before starting ACC play against Miami on Dec. 30.
