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Pittsburgh goes for 2-0 start vs. Delaware Stare

Nov 14, 2006 - 2:47 PM Delaware St (1-0) at No. 5 Pittsburgh (1-0) 7:30 pm EST

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - After an emotional victory in its season opener, Pittsburgh is hoping to be loose and more relaxed for its second opponent.

Mike Cook and Aaron Gray try to lead the fifth-ranked Panthers to their second straight impressive victory Tuesday when they host Delaware State in their home opener.

Pittsburgh had a relatively easy outing in Sunday's 86-67 triumph over Western Michigan. The game was played in the Maggie Dixon Classic, named for the former Army women's coach and sister of Panthers coach Jamie Dixon, who died of a heart condition in April. She was just 28.

Cook made 7-of-11 shots to score 17 points and Gray had 10 with 13 rebounds for Pittsburgh, which shot 59 percent (35-of-59) percent from the floor for the contest and took a 47-22 halftime lead.

It was a solid start for the Panthers, who were 25-8 and reached the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive time last season. Pittsburgh won 16 of 17 home games in 2005-2006, losing only to Seton Hall.

Roy Bright scored 25 points and Jahsha Bluntt added 16 for Delaware State, which shot 53 precent (32-of-60) in Saturday's 90-53 rout of Division II opponent St. Paul's.