Witherspoon

PITTSBURGH — Cameron Corhen had 16 points, Omari Witherspoon scored 15 and Pittsburgh beat Eastern Michigan 78-66 on Monday night.

Roman Siulepa and Nojus Indrusaitis both scored seven to help Pittsburgh (3-0) jump out to a 27-10 lead in the first 10 minutes.

Eastern Michigan (1-1) closed within nine points, but Papa Amadou Kante had back-to-back baskets during a 6-2 spurt over the final three minutes and the Panthers led 45-32 at halftime.

Carlos Hart had a pair of driving layups to begin the second half as the Eagles again closed within nine, but Witherspoon buried a 3-pointer after Corhen grabbed an offensive rebound and Pitt maintained a double-digit lead from there.

Mohammad Habhab made two free throws to cut it to 66-56 with 7:12 left, but Barry Duunng Jr. answered with a 3-pointer, Corhen scored on a layup and the Panthers cruised to the final buzzer.

Corhen made 7 of 11 shots and grabbed seven rebounds before fouling out. Witherspoon made 6 of 11 shots with two 3-pointers.

Pitt starter Brandin Cummings was out of the lineup due to a lower body injury.

Damarco Minor filled up the stat sheet for Pitt with 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals. Siulepa had 11 points with five boards and Indrusaitis scored nine.

Hart paced the Eagles with 19 points and seven rebounds. Habhab added 15 points and seven boards, while Addison Patterson pitched in with 13 points, six rebounds and four assists.

The Panthers return to action Thursday with a game at rival West Virginia.

EASTERN MICHIGAN (1-1): Habhab 5-13 4-4 15, Nwabude 0-1 2-2 2, Patterson 6-13 1-1 13, Ellison 1-3 1-2 4, Hart 8-16 3-4 19, Rubio 0-2 0-0 0, Green 0-2 0-0 0, Sanders 1-3 6-6 9, Manciel 1-2 0-0 3, Alderink 0-4 1-2 1, Shanu 0-0 0-0 0, Lawson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-59 18-21 66.

PITTSBURGH (3-0): Corhen 7-11 2-4 16, Siulepa 4-9 2-4 11, Indrusaitis 4-7 0-0 9, Minor 5-9 1-1 12, Witherspoon 6-11 1-3 15, Dunning 2-8 2-3 7, Amadou Kante 2-3 4-8 8, Moore 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 30-60 12-23 78.

Halftime–Pittsburgh 45-32. 3-Point Goals–Eastern Michigan 4-14 (Ellison 1-1, Sanders 1-1, Habhab 1-2, Manciel 1-2, Alderink 0-1, Nwabude 0-1, Rubio 0-1, Hart 0-2, Patterson 0-3), Pittsburgh 6-18 (Witherspoon 2-4, Siulepa 1-2, Indrusaitis 1-3, Minor 1-3, Dunning 1-4, Amadou Kante 0-1, Moore 0-1). Fouled Out–Corhen. Rebounds–Eastern Michigan 33 (Habhab, Hart 7), Pittsburgh 36 (Corhen, Minor 7). Assists–Eastern Michigan 10 (Patterson 4), Pittsburgh 14 (Minor 6). Total Fouls–Eastern Michigan 19, Pittsburgh 19.