PITTSBURGH — In an impressive performance off the bench, Brandin Cummings recorded a career-high 30 points, marking the highest tally for a freshman in the ACC this season, as the University of Pittsburgh cruised past Eastern Kentucky with a commanding 96-56 victory on Wednesday night.
Cummings, who had previously topped out at 12 points in a game, showcased his shooting ability by hitting 10 of 13 attempts, including six 3-pointers out of 10 attempts. Alongside him, Zack Austin contributed with 18 points, while Ishmael Leggett added 17 points. Jaland Lowe, who did not score in the first half, bounced back impressively to finish with 11 points and dished out 12 assists. The Panthers finished the game shooting 61% from the field, with a staggering 67% success rate in the second half during which they outscored the Colonels 57-20. At the foul line, Pitt converted 19 of 25 opportunities compared to Eastern Kentucky’s 3 of 5 performance.
For Eastern Kentucky, George Kimble III led with 16 points, followed by Jordan Crawford with 13 points, and Devontae Blanton with 11. Both Kimble and Crawford managed to score in double digits during the first half, but the second half saw Kimble drop to only five points while Crawford ended up scoreless.
What had begun as a narrow three-point lead for Pitt at halftime exploded in the second half. The Panthers executed a dominant 23-0 run, stretching their lead to 29 points with just eight minutes remaining after Cummings netted his final 3-pointer of the game.
Cummings initiated the scoring for Pitt, nailing three consecutive 3-pointers to account for the first 12 points and secure the lead. In response, Kimble responded with three straight 3-pointers, and Crawford contributed two more, giving Eastern Kentucky a brief advantage. Nevertheless, the Panthers closed the first half with a 39-36 lead, driven by Cummings’ 17 points.
Eastern Kentucky is set to host Eastern Illinois on Saturday, while Pittsburgh will remain idle until December 21, when they will welcome Sam Houston to town.
