Box Score Pittsburgh, PA—Freshman guard James Daniel scored a game-high 22 points but it was enough to offset the blistering first half shooting of the University of Pittsburgh as Howard dropped an 84-52  decision to the Panthers in the opening round of the Progressive Legends Classic at the Petersen Events Center.
               
Pitt (3-0) jumped out to an 18-1 lead and ended up shooting a school record 81 percent (17 of 21) en route to a 48-24 halftime advantage.  Lamar Patterson led all scorers with 16 in the first half and Scott Young added eight.
               
Daniel led the Bison with 12 points while Prince Okoroh and Solomon Mangham each tallied 5 points.  Howard shot 26 percent from the field.
               
In the second half, the Bison (2-3) cooled down the Panthers (41 percent) and improved their shooting woes by hitting on 46 percent.
               
"I liked our fight in the second half against an experienced and talented team," explained Howard University head coach Nickelberry.  "We kept competing."
               
In addition to Daniel's 22 points, Mangham, also a freshman, contributed a career-high 10 points.  Red-shirt freshman guard Keon Hill had a career-best five assists and red-shirt sophomore center Oliver Ellison blocked three shots.
               
"These games against tournament teams help get your players attention and shows them what they need to work on to get better," commented Nickelberry.
               
Patterson led the Panthers with 20 and Young added 11 as five other Pitt players scored seven or more points.

NEXT UP:  The Bison continue play in the Legends Classic when they travel to Houston, TX to play the University of Houston on Thursday at 7 pm.