Box Score
PITTSBURGH, Pa., November 10, 2007 – For the first ten minutes of North Carolina A & T’s contest against No. 20 Pittsburgh, the Aggies were every bit the worthy opponent.  But for the second straight night, the Aggies went through a scoring lull and their opponent didn’t as the Panthers defeated the Aggies 88-61 in the 2007 Hispanic College Fund Basketball Challenge from the Petersen Activity Center at Pittsburgh University.

Steven Rush led the Aggies with 13 points and Jason Wills added eight points and six rebounds. Ed Jones chipped in with nine points and two assists. 

“We executed very well, especially the first ten minutes”, said N.C. A&T men’s basketball coach  Jerry Eaves. “They’re a very good team and they were able to make a run and take control of the game.”

Crisp offensive sets, offensive rebounds, and solid defense helped the Aggies take a 14-13 lead with 13:17 remaining in the first half as Wills drove in for a layup.

The Panthers scored the next five points to take an 18-14 lead. Rush would moved the Aggies to within one on a 3-pointer from the wing with 10:10 remaining in the first half. N.C. A&T went the next 6 ½  minutes without a point, however, going 0-for-6 from the floor with two turnovers in that span.

An experienced Panthers team took advantage by going on a 16-0 run and shooting 5-for-6 from the field to take a 34-17 lead over the Aggies (0-2). N.C. A&T, playing its second game in as many days, ended its scoring drought at the 3:45 mark with a Wills layup to make it 34-19. The Aggies never got any closer.

The Panthers were led by Sam Young’s 24 points, while Mike Cook added 13. The Aggies wrap up their stay in Pittsburgh on Sunday by taking on the Houston Baptist University Huskies at 3:30 p.m.