Jeff Capel and Roman Siulepa Discuss Pitt's Win Over Eastern Michigan
PITTSBURGH — Pitt got off to its best offensive start of the season, which included a 21-4 first-half run, despite being shorthanded and rolled past Eastern Michigan by the score of 78-66 at the Petersen Events Center on Monday night.
The Panthers went to battle against the Eagles without the team’s leading scorer, Brandin Cummings, as he was ruled out prior to the game with a lower body injury. He is listed as day-to-day as the team hopes that he is ready to go for Thursday’s game against West Virginia.
Capel described the injury as a rolled ankle which happened on the last play of the team’s practice on Thursday.
While Cummings was sidelined against Eastern Michigan, Pitt led by as many as 18 points and consistently maintained a double-digit advantage throughout the team’s third win of the season.
Forward Cam Corhen led the way for the Panthers with 16 points while guard Damarco Minor was steady throughout the game as he tallied 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals.
While the two veterans played huge roles in the win, the play from two of the Panthers’ freshman starters was the icing on the cake in the win.
Guard Omari Witherspoon tallied a season-high 15 points as well as two rebounds, two assists and two blocks while forward Roman Siulepa had a stellar first half which allowed him to end up with 11 points and five rebounds.
Pitt head coach Jeff Capel, along with Siulepa, addressed the media following the win and talked about the “soft” defense that they played with in the second half, Cummings’ injury, the upcoming rivalry game against WVU and much more.
Watch the entire Pitt press conference here:
