No. 4 Panthers top Cougars to capture Legends Classic title

Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Sam Young had 15 points and eight rebounds to pace fourth-ranked Pittsburgh to a 57-43 win over Washington State in the championship game of the Legends Classic.

Levance Fields added 14 points for the Panthers (7-0), who overcame a 35.4 percent shooting effort from the field.

Daven Harmeling had 12 points for Washington State (5-1), which also shot 35.4 percent. That included a 7-of-29 clip in the second half.

It was a tight first half, but Pittsburgh carried a 26-23 edge to the intermission. The Panthers used a 14-1 spurt early in the second half to take control. Gilbert Brown's jam capped the rally for a 40-27 difference with 13:38 remaining.

Harmeling's three-pointer pulled the Cougars within 46-40 with 5:01 left, but the Panthers scored the ensuing 11 points to seal the victory. Fields started that burst with a bucket and then nailed a three-pointer.

Game Notes

WSU is 1-72 all-time against opponents ranked in the AP top-five...Washington State had won its previous 21 games against non-conference opponents. It was the second-longest streak in school history...DeJuan Blair had seven points and 10 rebounds for Pitt.

Last updated: November 29, 2008 at 11:28 PM