PITTSBURGH — In an impressive display of talent, Brandin Cummings entered the game as a substitute and achieved a personal best by scoring 30 points, marking the highest total by an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) freshman this season. The University of Pittsburgh decisively overcame Eastern Kentucky, finishing with a score of 96-56 on Wednesday night.
Cummings showcased exceptional skill, hitting 10 of his 13 attempts, with 6 out of 10 from behind the three-point line. Supporting his remarkable performance, Zack Austin contributed 18 points, Ishmael Leggett added 17, and Jaland Lowe turned things around after a scoreless first half, finishing the game with 11 points and 12 assists. The Panthers displayed outstanding shooting accuracy, posting a remarkable 61% overall, and even better in the second half at 67%, outscoring the Colonels by 57-20 in that period. Additionally, Pitt capitalized at the free-throw line, sinking 19 of 25 attempts compared to Eastern Kentucky’s 3 of 5.
For the Colonels, George Kimble III was a key player, putting up 16 points, while Jordan Crawford contributed 13 and Devontae Blanton added 11 points. Both Kimble and Crawford had strong first halves, but their production dwindled in the second half, where Kimble managed only five points and Crawford did not score at all.
The game had started with a close three-point advantage for Pitt at the halftime break. However, the Panthers erupted in the second half, embarking on a streak of 23 consecutive points to extend their lead to 29 just eight minutes into the half, capped off by Cummings’ final three-pointer.
Cummings set the tone early by hitting three three-pointers, helping the Panthers to quickly grab the lead. Meanwhile, Kimble responded with three straight three-pointers and Crawford added two more, temporarily giving the Colonels a brief lead. By halftime, Pitt was ahead 39-36, largely thanks to Cummings’ efforts, who had scored 17 points by that point.
Looking ahead, Eastern Kentucky will host Eastern Illinois this coming Saturday, while Pitt will have a break until December 21, when they are scheduled to face Sam Houston.
