PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — Damarco Minor scored 23 points and Brandin Cummings added 19 to lead Pittsburgh to a 78-60 victory over Longwood in a non-conference men’s basketball game on Friday night at Petersen Events Center.

The Panthers improved to 2-0 on the young season, while the Lancers evened their record at 1-1.

Pittsburgh took control of the game with a dominant second-half performance. After leading 33-28 at halftime, the Panthers outscored the Lancers 45-32 after the break, pulling away for the comfortable 18-point victory.

Minor, a 6-foot guard from Chicago, was efficient from the floor and added three assists in 34 minutes of action. Cummings, a 6-3 guard from Midland, Pennsylvania, complemented him with his 19-point effort, also dishing out three assists.

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 added 11 points for the Lancers.

The game was a tale of contrasting strengths. Longwood owned a significant advantage in the paint, outscoring Pittsburgh 34-16. However, the Panthers’ offense proved more potent overall, particularly from beyond the arc and in capitalizing on their opportunities.

Pittsburgh also received a solid contribution from Roman Siulepa, who scored 12 points, grabbed multiple offensive rebounds, and recorded a block. His activity on both ends helped the Panthers maintain their momentum throughout the second half.

A crowd of 5,134 watched at the Petersen Events Center as Pittsburgh successfully defended its home court. The Panthers will look to continue their winning streak when they host Eastern Michigan on Monday. Longwood returns to action next Wednesday at home against James Madison.

The game’s total points, 138, fell short of the pregame over/under line of 148.5. Pittsburgh entered the contest as a 17-point favorite according to oddsmakers.