Pitt-Slippery Rock live blog

PITT STARTING TO PULL AWAY

The Panthers lead, 56-42, with 11:57 remaining. Taylor has 22 points.

 

HALFTIME

Pitt leads, 40-31, at halftime. The Panthers scored 13 of the final 15 points in the final 2:58 to take the lead. Dante Taylor scored 10 of those points. He leads the Panthers with 16 points at halftime. Gary McGhee, who got the start at center, scored four points. Slippery Rock couldn't miss early, but those 3-pointers that were falling at the beginning were starting to clank off the rim near the end of the half. They finished 8 for 24 from behind the arc.

Travon Woodall had some early mistakes, but he started to play well at the end of the half. He made a terrific one-handed bounce pass to spring taylor for a thunderous dunk.

Jamie Dixon has plenty to scrutinize. Too many turnovers, poor perimter defense and a less-than-stellar performance in the half-court offensive sets.

 

 

FOURTH MEDIA TIMEOUT

 

Slippery Rock leads, 29-27. Taylor has eight points. His natural talents are starting to show through. Slippery Rock has cooled somewhat from 3-point range.

 

PITT TIMEOUT

Slippery Rock leads 20-13 after nailing its sixth 3-pointer of the half. Not a good start for the perimeter defesne.

 

SECOND MEDIA TIMEOUT

Slippery Rock leads, 11-9. Taylor scored twice for Pitt, the first off an offensive rebound and the second after a steal and coast-to-coast dunk. He picked up an offesnive foul the following possession for being too physcial trying to establish position in the post. He's giving the team a much-needed spark.

 

FIRST MEDIA TIMEOUT

 

Slippery Rock leads 6-5. The Rock made two 3-pointers while Pitt's points came from three Brad Wanamaker free throws and a dunk by Gary McGhee, who missed two other shots from close-in. Jamie Dixon subbed in Taylor for McGhee just before the media time. He also subbed Chase Adams for Woodall at the same time.

 

DIXON STILL IN WALKING BOOT

Senior guard Jermaine Dixon is still in a walking boot. Dixon is rehabilitating from September foot surgery and has yet to practice with the team. Coach Jamie Dixon should give an update on Jermaine after the game.

 

 

 

TODAY'S STARTING LINEUP

 

Here are today's starters: Travon Woodall and Ashton Gibbs at point and shooting guard, Brad Wanamaker at small forward, Nasir Robinson at power forward and Gary McGhee at center.

The only real surprise is McGhee starting over Dante Taylor, the McDonald's All-American. Taylor is very raw and needs some seasoning, so it looks like he'll have to prove to the coaching staff that he should be the starter over the next two weeks before the Friday Nov. 13 season opener against Wofford. Either way, he's going to play a lot.   

 

CHeck here for updates from the first exhibition game of the season against Slippery Rock. Tip-off is a little more than an hour from now at 4 p.m.