Dec 15, 2002 By Stephen Flinn For The 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – The Panthers improved their early-season record to a perfect 6-0 by manhandling Southeastern Louisiana at the Petersen Events Center, 89-55, Saturday night in front of 8,678. Pittsburgh opened up an 8-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game and never trailed.

“It’s good to get another win and I thought we played well on both sides of the ball,” coach Ben Howland said. “We really played well on defense, and that is our main focus each game.”

In the first half, Pittsburgh scored 37 of its 42 points on either dunks or layups.

The Panthers kept up their domination after halftime and built on a 16-point first-half lead, 42-26, as the Lions did not score their first points in the second half until four minutes elapsed.

“When you out-rebound the opponent and hold them to 33 percent shooting on defense, you win most of those games,” Howland said. “Our defense played really well in the second half, and it got to the point that they (Southeastern Louisiana) just could not score.”

Pittsburgh’s entire frontcourt took advantage of the shorter Lions, who did not start a player above 6-6.

Centers Ontario Lett recorded a career-fourth double-double after scoring 10 points with a career-high 10 rebounds before fouling out. Morris added 6 points and 7 rebounds.

“We stood out in the middle because we were so much bigger than them,” Howland said. “I thought our big guys contributed on offense and defense.”

The Panthers held the Lions to 35 percent shooting for the game and out-rebounded the Lions 44-32. Pittsburgh continued a well-balanced offensive attack as six players scored in double-figures.

Pittsburgh currently ranks second in the country in assists, and Knight moved into second place on Pitt’s all-time assist list after adding nine assists.

The team recorded 24 assists.

Lion coach Billy Kennedy also thought the Panthers were efficient. He was impressed with every aspect of Pittsburgh’s game.

“Pittsburgh is one of the most efficient basketball teams I have ever faced in all my years in the business,” Kennedy said. “I was really impressed with their offense and defense and we would have needed a miracle to pull this one off.”

Due to his late-arriving flight from Europe, the Panthers played without starting forward Donatas Zavackas. Chevon Troutman filled in admirably by scoring 14 points and pulling down 4 rebounds.

“It was not like I filled in because we both split time at forward,” Troutman said. “I just played hard and took advantage of getting more minutes.”

Julius Page led the Panthers with 17 points. He sprained an ankle halfway through the second half and did not return, but he is not expected to miss any upcoming games.

“I am just playing and trying to be aggressive, if I am the leading scorer, so be it,” Page said. “I don’t concentrate on stats and try to be the leading scorer, I just help the team every way I can.”

Besides Lett and Troutman, guards Brandin Knight and Carl Krauser each scored 13 points and Jaron Brown added 11 points. Southeastern did manage a late 12-2 surge after Howland inserted some reserve players, an effort that merely cut the Panther lead from 42 to 30.

If there was a Panther weakness exposed, it was at the free thrown line, as Pittsburgh shot 16-33 from the charity stripe.

“Those little things make all the difference in the world,” Howland said. “We were not able to practice earlier because the women played a game here, but we have to just focus more at the free throw line.”

The missed free throws did not seem to make a difference in the score or in Kennedy’s overall impression of the Panthers. His team has played Vanderbilt and Auburn this year, but considered Pittsburgh a cut above the rest.

“Pittsburgh was bigger and stronger than us in every position,” Kennedy. “They are the best team we played this year because they made very few mistakes and whenever they did make a mistake, they recovered from it.”

Next up for the Panthers is Ohio State at home on Wednesday. This game should be the first real test this season. They then travel to Rhode Island next Saturday.

“Now finals are behind us and we can look forward to just basketball for the next three weeks,” Howland said. “We have a big week coming up with two huge games.”