Pitt Cruises Past Niagara, 78-45 In Season Opener

Pitt Freshman forward Cameron Johnson

Just like the past 11 seasons under Head Coach Jamie Dixon, Pitt opened the 2014-15 basketball season with an easy 78-45 win last night at the Pederson Events Center in Pittsburgh.

The story of the night, though, wasn’t the win but the suspension of Pitt’s best shooter, junior Forward Durand Johnson, for the entire season. Dixon did not offer a reason for the suspension but regardless Johnson’s gone for the year and Pitt will need to find contributions from other players.

One player who has piqued the interest of Panther fans is true freshman Cameron Johnson from nearby Our Lady Of The Sacred Heart (OLSH). Johnson played 19 minutes in his college debut and scored 11 points on 4 for 5 shooting from the field and a perfect 2 for 2 from the line. He did, however, also manage to pick up 4 fouls in those 19 minutes. But Johnson’s shooting ability just might be the elixir Pitt is looking for to solve Durand Johnson’s departure.

Without star Lamar Patterson on the roster any longer, Pitt will need to spread the scoring wealth around this year. Perhaps Pitt’s deepest position is point guard where blazing quick sophomore Josh Newkirk looked polished and fluid on the floor shooting 5 for 9 and adding 12 points off the bench.

Pitt’s starting point guard James Robinson looked slimmed down, quicker and more aggressive with the ball and added 8 points on 3 for 8 shooting in 32 minutes of action.

With starting 2-guard Cameron Wright out a few more weeks recovering from a broken foot, Pitt redshirt sophomore Chris Jones made his first career start and pumped in 10 points on 4 for 7 shooting, including 2 for 3 from behind the arc.

A lot of the focus this season will be on the Panthers front court where new center and junior college transfer Joe Uchebo will need to be effective on the glass. Last night, he didn’t disappoint as he grabbed 8 rebounds and received support from reserve forward Derrick Randall who added 5 rebounds in a winning effort for Pitt.

At power forward, sophomore starter Michael Young added 7 points on 3 for 5 shooting for the Panthers. Rounding out the contributions, sophomore forward and Vanderbilt transfer Sheldon Jeter made his Pitt debut and went 2 for 4 from the field, including 1 for 2 from behind the arc, and scored 7 points.

The Panthers’ high scorer was sophomore small forward Jamel Artis, who quietly pumped in 14 points on 6 for 9 shooting, including 2 for 4 from downtown.

The Purple Eagles from Niagara were led by Ernie Blackman, who scored a game high 16 points on 6 for 14 from the field and a perfect 4 for 4 from the charity stripe.

Next Up: Samford at Pitt, Sun 11/16 at 1pm EST, Pederson Events Center, Pittsburgh, PA