Pittsburgh Dominates Xavier on Front Line

Pittsburgh used a dominating front line and 57.6% shooting to upset 13th-ranked Xavier, 94-76, Thursday in the first round of the Puerto Rico Shootout at Bayamon.

Pushing for national recognition, the Panthers improved to 5-0 as Atila Cosby had 23 points and 12 rebounds and fellow forward Isaac Hawkins added 19 points and 12 rebounds. Guard Vonteego Cummings led all scorers with 24 points.

Xavier, sent to the losers’bracket a game earlier than expected, got 17 points from Gary Lumpkin and Lloyd Price. But the Musketeers also shot 35% in the second half, making a comeback impossible after falling behind, 47-38, at the break.

Kentucky 64, Colorado 52--The Wildcats flew to the Caribbean in a chartered 747 that also carried about 600 fans, who then blanketed much of Eugene Guerra Sports Complex in blue and white. The players took it from there.

Tayshaun Prince, the freshman from Dominguez High in Compton, made seven of 10 shots, scored 15 points and added three blocks to lead the defending national champions into today’s semifinal against Pittsburgh. Only two teammates reached double figures as Coach Tubby Smith used eight players at least 18 minutes.

Colorado shot 22% in the first half, managing just 21 points in the process, and finished at 27%.

Maryland 82, American 32--The host school, without a player taller than 6 feet 5, fell behind, 15-0 and 31-5, and never got close, giving Maryland the chance to rest players for its semifinal game today against UCLA.

No Terrapin played more than 24 minutes. Reserves Juan Dixon and Danny Miller each scored 14 points for Maryland. Laron Profit had 13 points for the Terrapins, while Terence Morris added 12.

American, playing its opener, lost 10 players from its roster after they weren’t approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse when the school made the move from Division III to Division II.

Kevin Nesbitt had 13 points and nine rebounds for American.

ALSO

Fresno State 82, Alaska Anchorage 79--Courtney Alexander scored 22 points and Terrance Roberson added 16 to help the Bulldogs (3-1) in an opening-round game in the Great Alaska Shootout.

The lead went back and forth in the second half until a follow by Melvin Ely put Fresno State ahead for good, 76-75, with about four minutes left.

Chris Herren scored 15 for Fresno State and Larry Abney had 11 rebounds.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.