Top-seeded Pittsburgh pulled away from UNC-Asheville in the second half and advanced 74-51 in the second round of the NCAA tournament Thursday at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

Pitt (28-5) led the No. 16 Bulldogs just 30-25 at halftime before exerting dominance on defense and the backboards the rest of the way.

Pittsburgh plays Butler in the third round Saturday.

The Panthers' Ashton Gibbs scored 20 of his 26 points in the second half. Nasir Robinson scored 12, and Gary McGhee had seven points and 11 rebounds.

Pitt won the rebound battle 44-26 and held UNC-Asheville to 30 percent from the field and just 15 percent from 3-point range.

Bulldogs guard Matt Dickey, hero of their first-round overtime win over Arkansas-Little Rock, scored 21 points, and guard J.P. Primm scored 14.

UNC-Asheville (20-14) won the Big South Conference tournament and beat Arkansas-Little Rock in overtime in the Tuesday's First Four round of play-in games..