Young's 24 Points, 10 Boards Leads Pitt Past Yale, 75-70

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Michael Young scored 24 points and added 10 rebounds as Pittsburgh held off Yale, 75-70, Tuesday night.

Young, the two-time reigning ACC Player of the Week, was a jack-of-all trades for the Panthers. In addition to leading the team in scoring and rebounds, Young had three assists, a block and went a perfect 6 for 6 from the free-throw line.

Pitt (4-1) took advantage of an aggressive Yale defense by getting to the foul line frequently. The Bulldogs committed a total of 19 fouls, and Pitt made 18 of 23 from the free-throw line.

"We took the ball strong to the rim and got them in foul trouble," Pitt coach Kevin Stallings said. "We were able to get ourselves to the line and it ended up being the difference in the game, probably."

Pitt's Jamel Artis had 20 points and six rebounds. The point guard was able to lead Pitt's transition game, which outscored Yale, 14-7, on fast-break points.

Yale (2-2) kept the game close throughout the first half by using some hot outside shooting. Guard Miye Oni hit three first-half 3-pointers as part of a 13-point night. The Bulldogs as a team shot 40.7 percent from beyond the arc.

"We go into every game trying to take what teams give us," said Yale coach James Jones. "We figured out that driving it, having them collapse, and then kicking the ball out was good for us."

Late in the game, Yale changed to a press and closed a 10-point Pitt lead.

BIG PICTURE

Yale: The Bulldogs continue to get strong offensive production despite the loss of leading returning scorer Makai Mason, who is out with an injury. Yale had four players in double digits, with Sam Downey's 17 leading the way.

Pitt: Kevin Stallings has been searching for a third scorer to complement Young and Jamel Artis, who had 20. Sophomore Cameron Johnson threw his hat into the ring, scoring 15 points, including a series of three straight 3-pointers in the second half to help the Panthers build a lead.

"It was a big boost," Young said. "They went zone, kept it compact, took away the driving lanes and made us use the pass more. (Johnson) opened up things for us and helped us keep the lead and keep it at margin we could be comfortable."

TURNING POINT: Yale's press closed the margin to three points with under a minute to play when Yale guard Anthony Dallier inadvertently fouled Artis, who made both free throws to restore Pitt's two-possession lead.

It was a bit of a homecoming game for Dallier, who had never played at the Petersen Events Center despite growing up in nearby Wexford, Pa. He started and played 25 minutes while scoring six points.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs continue a four-game road swing when they visit Vermont Saturday. Yale plays five of its first six games on the road this season.

Pitt hosts Morehead State Friday night. The Panthers beat Eagles last season, 72-62.

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