FACTS & STATS: Petersen Events Center (12,500) -- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Television: Local. Home Record: Belmont 1-1, Pittsburgh 4-0. Away Record: Belmont 0-0, Pittsburgh 0-0. Neutral Record: Belmont 0-0, Pittsburgh 0-0. Conference Record: Belmont 0-0, Pittsburgh 0-0. Series Record: First-ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: The fourth-ranked Pittsburgh Panthers wrap up their season-opening five-game homestand tonight, as they entertain the Belmont Bruins in non- conference play at the Petersen Events Center.

The Panthers have cruised through their first four games of the season, winning each by at least 19 points. The team was last in action on Saturday, when it coasted past Division II member Indiana-PA, 86-60. It was the program's 100th home win in the 110 games since the opening of the Petersen Events Center six years ago. Pittsburgh owns an incredible 60-1 ledger and has posted 32 straight wins against non-conference opponents at the Petersen Events Center.

As for Belmont, it has played just two games on the season, going an even 1-1 at home. After opening the season with a 78-60 triumph over Samford, the Bruins were nipped by Austin Peay, 86-84, a week ago. This is the first of four straight games on the road for Belmont, which has never faced Pittsburgh before.

A controversial foul call with 0.2 seconds left sent Austin Peay to the foul line, where it made a pair of deciding free throws in an 86-84 decision against Belmont. It was a tough finish for the Bruins, who played well and shot 49.2 percent from the field, including a 10-of-26 effort from long distance. Alex Renfroe guided Belmont in the loss with an all-around effort of 18 points, six assists and five rebounds. It was a nice rebound performance for Renfroe, who scored just seven points in an opening win over Samford. After being limited to just seven points in the opener, Jon House went for 18 points and five assists last game. Andy Wicke, who had 14 points and five steals in the opener, chipped in with 13 points and four steals in the loss to Austin Peay.

Pittsburgh opened the game with a 20-0 run and never looked back in a blowout of Indiana-PA on Saturday. The Panthers shot 51.5 percent from the floor in the game and dominated the boards, 47-30. DeJuan Blair led the charge with a double-double of 27 points and 18 rebounds and he finished the game 13-of-14 from the floor. It was a tremendous effort from Blair, who is averaging a double-double with 17.5 ppg and 13.3 rpg on the year. Sam Young has provided a nice complement to him with 16.0 ppg and 4.8 rpg, and Levance Fields has been in charge of setting up the duo, handing out 8.0 apg. Fields also chips in with 12.8 ppg for Pittsburgh, which is scoring 85.0 ppg and outrebounding its foes by 13.0 rpg on the year.

The Panthers are the obvious choice in this one, as they are bigger, stronger and more talented and should have no trouble cruising to another victory.

Predicted Outcome

Pittsburgh 85, Belmont 66