PITTSBURGH - Brett McKnight scored a career-high 23 points, 15 of which came in the second half, as the University of Akron men's basketball team lost 86-67 to sixth-ranked Pittsburgh on Friday in the Legends Classic at Petersen Events Center.

McKnight played 30 minutes off the bench, converted 9-of-15 field goals and grabbed a team-high four rebounds. Nate Linhart was the only other Zips' player to score in double figures, totaling 11 points on the strength of a 5-of-7 showing from the floor. Linhart also had four assists, two blocks and one steal in 31 minutes before fouling out. Ronnie Steward matched Linhart with a team-high four assists.

Pitt's Sam Young led all scorers with 26 points, and aided the Panthers in a surge late in the first half that helped them take control.

Levance Fields had 19 points and seven assists and DeJuan Blair added 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds for Pittsburgh (3-0). Young scored 11 of Pitt's final 15 points in the first half as the Panthers upped their lead from 28-19 to 45-27 at the intermission.

Pitt led by as much as 23 with 6:57 remaining. Akron cut the margin to 73-58 with 3:37 left, but would get no closer.

Akron (2-1) shot 50 percent (25-of-50) from the floor, but hit 15-of-26 (57.7 percent) in the second period. The Zips made 78.6 percent (11-of-14) from the line.

Pittsburgh shot 45 percent (27-of-60) from the field, while making 27-of-37 (73 percent) free throws. The Panthers also held a 41-24 advantage on the boards, and outscored the Zips 23-8 in second-chance points, 19-5 in fastbreak scoring and 38-26 in the paint.

Akron continues play in the Legends Classic by taking on Division II Urbana on Tuesday at 7 p.m. EST at Rhodes Arena.