Fourth-Ranked Pittsburgh Pulls Away From DePaul

2/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL

PITTSBURGH (AP) - DeJuan Blair led No. 4 Pittsburgh with 20 points and 18 rebounds as the Panthers pulled away early in the second half for an 80-61 victory over DePaul on Saturday night.

Pitt opened a 21-10 lead but didn’t expand on it the rest of the first half - the halftime lead was 40-30 - and couldn’t put the game out of reach until Sam Young and Tyrell Biggs led a 16-2 run to begin the second half.

Young, who scored 16 points, started the second half with a 3-pointer and dunked off a Levance Fields pass while Biggs scored three times during a run that put Pitt ahead 56-32. Biggs added 13 points.

Dar Tucker scored 18 and Will Walker had 17 points for DePaul (0-19), 0-14 in Big East). The Blue Demons host Villanova on Wednesday night before St. John's visits on Saturday to close the home schedule.