Auburn Hills, Mich ? If the blisters heal in time, Pittsburgh’s men’s basketball team fully anticipates being ready for Sunday’s second-round NCAA Tournament game.

The Panthers shot a white-hot 67 percent from the field in a 79-64 victory over Kent State on Friday in The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Pittsburgh (25-7) now will face Bradley, which upset Kansas University, 77-73, in Friday’s late game.

So, how hot were the Panthers? The two high scorers were a combined 13-of-13 from the field. Pittsburgh made of 14 of its first 18 shots. At one point well into the second half, the Panthers were 72 percent from the field, and there were plenty of jump shots mixed in with the bunnies.

“Passing was more of it than anything,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. “It got us the shots we needed to do.”

The Panthers jumped to a 34-14 lead shooting 80 percent, often by being one step ahead of a scrambling Kent State defense. Expecting the Golden Flashes to double-team 7-foot center Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh worked in practice to have Gray pass out of the post. An undersized Kent State indeed doubled-up, and, a few quick passes later, the Panthers found the open man.

And, Friday, he rarely missed.

“Teams have picked their spots,” Gray said. “They doubled me down low, and I think it broke down their defense a lot.”

It was so different from the Big East tournament final a week ago, won by Syracuse after Pittsburgh shot 33 percent of the field and fell into a big hole early.

It also avenged what Pitt point guard Carl Krauser called one of the most devastating losses of his five-year career. Four years ago, Kent State topped heavily favored Pitt to advance to the Elite Eight.

“It was another factor,” Gray said, “that added to the overall intensity of the game.”

– Sports reporter Ryan Wood can be reached at 832-7152.