Another Day, Another Upset for Pittsburgh
BAYAMON, Puerto Rico — Unranked Pittsburgh recorded its second major upset in two days Friday, beating No. 4 Kentucky, 68-56. That ended the Wildcats’ 17-game winning streak as Pitt moved into the championship game of the Puerto Rico Shootout.
The Panthers (6-0) got 20 points from Vonteego Cummings and 10 points and 10 rebounds from Isaac Hawkins in defeating the defending national champions a day after surprising No. 13 Xavier. They now get No. 5 Maryland tonight in the title game of the eight-team tournament.
“We’re going to celebrate, but we’re not going to really celebrate until we get done with tomorrow,†Cummings said after the Kentucky game.
“Obviously beating two ranked teams in two days means a lot to your program but it means more to me for these kids who have been through so much,†said Pittsburgh Coach Ralph Willard, a former Kentucky assistant under Rick Pitino.
Kentucky (4-1) made two of 22 three-point attempts. The Wildcats were one of 12 from that range in the first round against Colorado.
“We missed about 40 open shots,†Kentucky forward Scott Padgett said. “We scored at will inside but didn’t get anything outside.â€
Cummings was happy for that.
“We wanted them to take threes,†he said. “We had scouting reports that said they weren’t shooting that well.â€
Said Padgett: “The way we were shooting today I would have wanted us to shoot, too.â€
No. 13 Xavier 74, Colorado 61--James Posey had 21 points, 11 rebounds and three steals as the Musketeers avoided consecutive losses for the first time since late in 1995-96.
It was Posey’s fourth double-double in five games. The senior forward had eight all last season as sixth man.
Colorado shot 37.5% and only one Buffalo player reached double figures in scoring, Aki Thomas with 12 off the bench.
University of San Francisco 62, American (Puerto Rico) 46--Gerald Zimmerman scored 12 points and LyRyan Russell had 11 for the Dons a consolation game.
San Francisco (3-1) used its size and quickness advantage to take a 39-15 halftime lead and extended it to 54-22 on a three-pointer by Derek Christensen with 11:56 to play.
Ramon Gomez led the Pirates with 25 points.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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