Pittsburgh Beats Md. Eastern Shore

12/27/1997

Pittsburgh 88, Md.-E. Shore 51

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Ricardo Greer and Isaac Hawkins each scored 17 points Saturday to lead Pittsburgh to an 88-51 win against the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore.

The two players' outside-inside combination overwhelmed the Fighting Hawks of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Less than six minutes into the game, the visiting Fighting Hawks (2-6) trailed by double figures. Also in the opening minutes, the Panthers (5-3) shot nearly 72 percent from the field and forced eight turnovers.

The Panthers' inside game was the strongest that it's been all season with Hawkins dominating at both ends.

In the final few minutes, Pittsburgh steadily opened an 18-point advantage. Hawkins, Kellii Taylor and Vonteego Cummings, who scored 16 points, got the Panthers into overdrive, and their bench finished off the opposition.

Greer, fresh from earning Big East rookie-of-the-week honors, led the way with five 3-pointers and 15 rebounds.

Joel Hoover and Cryhten Langhorne topped Maryland-Eastern Shore with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Jeremy Jones grabbed six rebounds, and Hoover had six assists, both team highs.

Pittsburgh visits Syracuse on Tuesday night in a Big East matchup.