Pittsburgh Basketball: 3 takeaways from 40-point blowout win over Eastern Kentucky

After a five-game stretch away from home, Pittsburgh Basketball was back in the Petersen Events Center against Eastern Kentucky. But despite being favored by around 20 points, the Panthers had struggled early, trailing towards the end of the first half.

However, Pittsburgh dominated the final 20 minutes, outscoring the Colonels by 37 points to finish with a 96-56 victory to move to 9-2 on the season. Here are some takeaways from the game.

1. Brandin Cummings historic outing

Starting guard Jaland Lowe did finish with 12 assists but was forced to sit with two early fouls. In his place was the freshman Cummings, who scored the first 12 points for the Panthers and finished with a season-high 30 points on 10/13 shooting, including 6/8 from deep. With guard Damian Dunn still out with a thumb injury, the Panthers have been looking for another double-digit scoring option. With this performance, the freshman guard should have a larger role going forward.

2. Zack Austin’s continued strong games

The second-leading scorer on the night was Austin, whose 18 points was a season-high for himself. He went 2/3 from deep, pushing his season average up to 43%. That’s a big development for a team struggling from the three-point line. Austin’s known for his athleticism and defensive contributions, but this season, his offense has provided a nice boost for the team.

3. Guillermo Diaz-Graham’s continued offensive struggles

Not everyone had a good game for the Panthers. The junior starting forward finished scoreless in 16 minutes, missing all four three-point attempts and five of the team’s 10 total turnovers. 

On the season, Diaz-Graham is shooting just 37% from the field and below 20% from three-point range. While he does lead Pittsburgh in rebounding, he’s become a black hole on offense. They have one more non-con game before getting back to ACC play, and if his offense doesn’t get better, his role in the rotation may be in jeopardy.