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GREENSBORO, N.C. — Nelly Cummings scored 13 points and No. 11 seed Pittsburgh held sixth-seeded Iowa State to 23% shooting in a 59-41 victory in the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday.

Jamarius Burton added 11 points and Greg Elliott had ten for coach Jeff Capel’s Panthers, who stormed to a 22-two lead just after Iowa State missed its 1st 11 shots. Factors didn’t get a great deal improved for the Cyclones, who had 3 stretches in which they missed at least eight consecutive shots.

Pitt (24-11), which edged Mississippi State in the Initially 4, moves on to Sunday’s second-round Midwest Area game against third-seeded Xavier, which had to rally from 13 points down to beat No. 14 seed Kennesaw State.

“What an unbelievable defensive overall performance,” Capel mentioned. “We had been a truly great defensive group for the majority of the year except for the final month of the season — and we’ve truly dialed back in these previous two games and played at an elite level.”

Gabe Kalscheur and Jaren Holmes every had 12 points for Iowa State (19-14), which reached the Sweet 16 final year in coach T.J. Otzelberger’s 1st season.

The Cyclones, who had lost nine of their earlier 13 games, didn’t make a field aim till Holmes’ brief jumper with 9:53 left in the 1st half, which drew a sarcastic cheer from Iowa State fans.

Iowa State’s poor get started came though shooting at the identical basket that officials worked to repair ahead of the game, causing a short delay.

“Iowa State asked us throughout pregame warmups to verify if the rim was level,” the NCAA mentioned in a statement. “Building personnel checked it and created a minor adjustment prior to the game starting. We supplied them added warmup time but they declined.”

Otzelberger mentioned he wasn’t certain if the concern with the basket may possibly have gotten into his players’ heads and contributed to their poor shooting, saying, “you’d have to ask the players.”

Kalscheur mentioned it wasn’t, adding that players are educated to manage adversity.

The Cyclones clawed inside 30-23 at the break but began the second half a great deal like they did the 1st — producing two of their 1st 19 shots.

When Pitt’s Nike Sibande was fouled on a three-pointer from the left corner with beneath 5 minutes left and created the ensuing totally free throw to place the Panthers up by 20, it was all but more than.

The Cyclones went practically eight minutes devoid of a field aim in the second half ahead of Tamin Lipsey created a three-pointer from the corner with two:13 left to reduce the lead to 19.

1 the largest highlights for Pitt came late in the second half when wiry 7-foot center Jorge Diaz Graham lofted a best pass to his identical twin brother Guillermo for a dunk, causing the Panthers’ bench to erupt in celebration.

The brothers do not see quite a few minutes on the floor with each other considering that they’re freshmen and play the identical position.

“It was a blast of power,” Guillermo Diaz Graham mentioned. “That ball coming from my brother specifically … it was awesome.”

Added Jorge Diaz Graham: “The funny issue is yesterday in practice he dunked on me and (teammate) Nate (Hinson) and he was speaking trash. So I told him, ‘OK, you want to speak now, but just do it in a game.’ And so he did, and now I have to shut up and say thank you for producing my help.”

Pitt also got an emotional enhance from center Federiko Federiko, who received a substantial ovation from the Panthers faithful when he checked into the game in the 1st half. Federiko sat out with a knee injury against Mississippi State and the Panthers had been outrebounded by 21.

“We’ve had one thing to prove considering that the preseason ranked us 14th our conference,” Cummings mentioned. “We’ve had a chip on our shoulder the 1st time we noticed that. Dayton (the Initially 4 web site) was just one more instance of us getting to place a chip on our shoulder once more. We’re surely hunting forward to proving additional.”

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Pitt: The Panthers knocked down eight 3s against 1 of the improved defenses in the nation when they beat Mississippi State for their 1st NCAA Tournament win considering that 2014. They stayed hot against Iowa State, producing their 1st 3 shots from beyond the arc.

Iowa State: In spite of playing in the competitive Huge 12, the Cyclones weren’t rather prepared for the significant stage, enduing 1 of the poorest shooting performances in current memory.

“We’re a group that is fueled by our defense and felt like early we didn’t dictate and disrupt rather as effectively as we required to to get our all-natural rhythm going,” Otzelberger mentioned.

PITTSBURGH (24-11)

G.Diaz Graham three-five two-two 9, Burton 1-7 9-ten 11, Cummings five-11 1-1 13, Elliott 1-five eight-9 ten, Hinson 1-eight two-two five, Sibande two-three two-three eight, Federiko – 1-two 1, J.Diaz Graham 1-two – two, Santos – – . Totals 14-41 25-29 59.

IOWA ST. (19-14)

Jones -five -three , T.King two-five 7-9 11, Holmes six-17 – 12, Kalscheur four-14 three-five 12, Lipsey two-9 – five, Kunc -six – , Ward – – , Watson -1 – , Osunniyi -three 1-two 1. Totals 14-60 11-19 41.

Halftime_Pittsburgh 30-23. three-Point Targets_Pittsburgh six-19 (Sibande two-three, Cummings two-five, G.Diaz Graham 1-three, Hinson 1-7, Elliott -1), Iowa St. two-21 (Lipsey 1-two, Kalscheur 1-eight, T.King -1, Kunc -four, Holmes -six). Rebounds_Pittsburgh 36 (G.Diaz Graham, Elliott eight), Iowa St. 33 (Lipsey ten). Assists_Pittsburgh ten (Burton, Cummings three), Iowa St. 7 (Holmes four). Total Fouls_Pittsburgh 19, Iowa St. 22. A_16,150 (23,500).

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