BOX SCORE

PITTSBURGH (Dec. 20, 2011) – The Saint Francis University men's basketball team fell on the road Tuesday night to Pittsburgh, 71-47, at the Petersen Events Center.
 
The Red Flash (3-8) fell victim to strong runs to start each half by the Panthers (11-1) as Pitt used a strong rebounding effort and a balanced offensive attack to knock off the Flash. Anthony Ervin (Chesterfield, Va./Fork Union Military Academy) led the way for Saint Francis with 13 while Stephon Whyatt (Jersey City, N.J./St. Peter's Prep) added 10. The Panther trio of Dan Taylor, J.J. Moore and Lamar Patterson all scored in double figures.  
 
Pitt forced SFU into early mistakes and used a strong inside game to run out to an 11-0 lead until Scott Eatherton (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) ended the run with a jumper at the 13:52 mark. The Panthers scored often in the paint in the first half using drives and cuts to penetrate the SFU zone defense. The Panthers scored 16 of their first 21 points in paint. The Red Flash offense took most of the first half to get going but a couple of buckets from Eatherton ignited the Flash. SFU had the Pitt advantage down to 15 but J.J. Moore put together a three-point play just before the half to give Pitt a 39-21 halftime lead but the Flash finished the half on a 14-9 run.
 
The halftime break iced the SFU momentum and the Panthers started the second half much the way they start started the game with buckets inside fueled by SFU turnovers. Pitt tailed the first 10 points of the half with eight coming in paint. Coach Don Friday called a timeout to correct the mistakes of his young squad and sparked a 6-0 Flash run and forced Pitt into back-to- back turnovers. Panthers settled themselves with and turned up the defense on Eatherton, not allowing the junior to score in the second half.
 
Saint Francis continues its season long road trip Dec. 23 against St. Bonaventure with tip off set for 7 p.m.
 
GAME NOTES
- Anthony Ervin (Chesterfield, Va./Fork Union Military Academy) made his first start since Nov. 19 after coming off the bench in seven consecutive games.
 
- Pitt controlled the painted area in the first half with 21 rebounds (11 offensive) and 24 points in the paint. For the game Pitt outscored SFU in the paint 44-16.
 
- The Red Flash did not earn their first foul shot of the game until the 7:52 mark of the second half.
 
 - Morece Issac recorded the first points of his college career with a jumper from the left elbow late in the second half.
 
- SFU posted its second worst shooting performance of the season going 19-of-54 (35.2-percent) from the field.
 
- Pitt held Scott Eatherton (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) to his worst shooting performance of the season, entering the game the Hershey, Pa. native led the NCAA in field goal percentage.
 
- Storm Stanley (Lambertville, Mich./St. Francis de Sales) tied his career high with four points.
 
- Scott Eatherton (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) posted nine point and eight rebounds nearly recording his first career double-double.