PITTSBURGH — Ashton Gibbs scored 24 points, including the clinching 3-pointer with a minute remaining, and No. 10 Pittsburgh escaped Rider 86-78 last night.
Nasir Robinson added 22 points and six rebounds for the Panthers (2-0), who trailed by as many as six in the second half but ended the game on a 16-5 run to win their 58th straight nonconference game at the Petersen Events Center.
Anthony Myles led the Broncs (0-2) with 20 points but Rider — which dressed nine players and played just seven — ran out of steam in the final five minutes.
Brandon Penn hit a 3-pointer to give Rider a 73-72 lead, but Dante Taylor kickstarted a late Pitt surge that Gibbs capped with a 3-pointer from the top of the key to put Pitt up 82-76.
The Panthers, who cruised to a 33-point win over Albany in their season-opener Friday, appeared to be on their way to another rout as hot shooting from Gibbs and Travon Woodall helped build a quick 14-point lead.
Yet Rider — which was whipped by Robert Morris on Friday — didn’t back down even while playing with a short-handed bench. Guard Tommy Pereria and center Dera Nd-Ezuma both missed the game with injuries. Freshman forward Junior Fortunat is still waiting to be cleared by the NCAA and Jonathon Thompson is serving a suspension for a violation of team rules last season.
No matter, Rider used a 13-2 run to get back in it as Pitt looked a little bored at times, particularly on defense.
Rider’s 45 points were the second-most the Panthers have ever allowed in a half at home since the Petersen Events Center opened. Big East rival Notre Dame once dropped 46 in a half against the Panthers, though Pitt came back to win that game in overtime.
Woodall finished with 17 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds for the Panthers, who won despite allowing Rider to shoot 53 percent from the floor. — AP