• Recap
• Bleachers

No. 4 Pitt cruises past Cincinnati

Feb 6, 2011 - 1:40 AM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Ashton Gibbs poured in 25 points as the fourth-ranked Pittsburgh Panthers cruised to a 71-59 win over the Cincinnati Bearcats at Petersen Events Center.

Gilbert Brown posted 11 points while Brad Wanamaker had eight points and seven rebounds for the Panthers (21-2, 9-1 Big East), who have won their past two after losing to Notre Dame.

Larry Davis had 13 points and Anthony McClain added 10 for the Bearcats (18-5, 5-5), who have dropped their past two decisions.

Pitt never trailed in this game and held a 13-4 lead just over five minutes in on Gibbs' three-pointer.

Six unanswered points from Cincinnati capped on a Davis jumper made it a three-point game halfway through the first half, but Pitt answered with the next six points.

The Panthers got the final six points of the first half capped on Wanamaker's layup to take a 40-23 lead into the break.

Consecutive three-balls to start the second half gave Pitt a 46-23 lead, but Cincinnati made a late charge to get back into the game.

Trailing by 22 points, McClain put in a layup that kick-started a 14-2 run with Cashmere Wright putting in a jumper to make it a 61-51 game with just over three minutes to play.

However, the Bearcats didn't score over the next minute and the team was unable to get closer than nine points back the rest of the way.

Game Notes

Pitt plays at West Virginia on Monday...Cincinnati plays at DePaul on Tuesday...Pitt now holds an 8-7 edge in the series thanks to winning the past five contests...Pitt made 46.8 percent of its shots while Cincinnati hit 33.3 percent from the floor.