PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — Damarco Minor scored 23 points and Brandin Cummings added 19 as Pittsburgh pulled away in the second half to defeat Longwood 78-60 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Friday night at a raucous Petersen Events Center.

A crowd of 5,134 watched the Panthers improve to 2-0 on the young season, while the Lancers evened their record at 1-1.

The game was a tale of two halves, with the Panthers holding a narrow 33-28 lead at the break before outscoring the Lancers 45-32 after halftime to secure the victory. The Panthers’ offense found its rhythm in the second period, shooting with greater efficiency and capitalizing on their opportunities to build an insurmountable lead.

Minor, a 6-foot guard from Chicago, was the catalyst for the Panthers’ offensive surge, playing 34 minutes and facilitating the offense with three assists to go with his game-high scoring output. Cummings, a hometown product from Midland, Pennsylvania, provided a crucial scoring punch, playing 33 minutes and connecting on key shots throughout the contest.

Longwood was led by Johan Nziemi, who scored 16 points, and Jacoi Hutchinson, who contributed 13 points and a team-high six assists. Alphonzo Billups also reached double figures for the Lancers with 11 points.

Despite the final margin, Longwood competed hard, particularly in the paint where they held a dominant 34-16 advantage. The Lancers also managed 11 points off Pittsburgh turnovers, compared to just seven for the Panthers.

Pittsburgh’s Roman Siulepa provided a strong all-around performance with 12 points, two assists and a block. The Panthers’ interior defense was anchored by Cameron Corhen, who logged 36 minutes and recorded two blocks, helping to disrupt Longwood’s attempts close to the basket.

The Panthers set the tone early, opening the game with a 3-pointer from Omari Witherspoon and maintaining a lead throughout the first half. While Longwood kept the game within reach, trailing by just five at halftime, Pittsburgh’s offensive firepower proved too much in the final 20 minutes.

Pittsburgh entered the game as a heavy favorite and lived up to the billing, though the final score did not cover the pregame point spread. The combined point total of 138 fell well under the projected over/under line.

The Panthers will look to continue their winning ways when they host Eastern Michigan on Monday. Longwood returns to action Wednesday at home against James Madison.