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Pitt Blows Late Lead, Snaps Winning Streak with Loss to Clemson, 75-74

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PITTSBURGH — Despite an up-and-down battle all afternoon, Jeff Capel’s Pitt Panthers blew a late lead and fell to first-place Clemson by a score of 75-74 on Saturday.

Pitt led by seven with just over four minutes remaining, but Clemson used a 9-0 run powered by PJ Hall and a late Brevin Galloway bucket to regain the lead. 

After Hunter Tyson hit both of his free throws with nine seconds to go, Pitt’s Nike Sibande hit a three pointer, but it turned out being too little, too late, as only 0.9 seconds were left on the clock.

Pitt suffered its first conference loss of the season, with the final score 75-74.

Clemson got out to an 18-10 lead to start the game, hitting eight of its first 11 field-goal attempts and bullying Pitt’s thin front court inside.

With big man John Hugley out for his fifth-straight game, Pitt’s Federiko Federiko, Guillermo Diaz-Graham, and Blake Hinson tried to stop the relentless inside effort from the Tigers.

Pitt’s two leading scorers kept the Panthers in it while the Tigers continued to hammer them inside. Jamarius Burton and Blake Hinson combined for the team’s first 22 points, with each heating up from three-point range. Burton went 3 for 5 from deep in the first half, while Hinson added two threes of his own in the frame.

After Federiko and Hinson each picked up their second fouls of the first half, Pitt went to a smaller lineup, relying on Diaz-Graham inside. Nelly Cummings, Greg Elliott, and Jamarius Burton each hit big shots in the last few minutes of the half, going on a 16-7 run and giving Pitt the lead heading into the final frame.

In the second half, Burton opened up the scoring with his signature pull-up mid-range jumper. Throughout a roller coaster of a half, the Panthers stayed in it and built their lead up to as much as nine, but could not close it out.

Burton finished as the team’s leading scorer on the day, scoring 28 to give him his third game of at least 20 points this season. He hit nine of his 16 shots in the game, also grabbing six rebounds to lead the team.

Hinson followed with 14 points and six rebounds in a game in which he battled that foul trouble and fouled out in the last minute.

Clemson used a balanced attack in its effort, as Hunter Tyson, Chase Hunter, Brevin Galloway, and PJ Hall all contributed with double-digit scoring numbers. Tyson led the way, hitting six of his 14 field goals for a team-high 17 points.

Along with those two, Pitt’s Greg Elliott hit three of his six shots for 11 points in the game. Nelly Cummings dished out a team-high four assists as well.

With the loss, Pitt falls to 11-5 (4-1 ACC) on the year. The Tigers claimed first place in the ACC with the victory on Saturday afternoon.

Pitt’s next game comes on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at the historic Cameron Indoor Stadium, where the Panthers will take on No. 16 Duke (12-4, 3-2 ACC).

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker
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JHoff14
JHoff14
1 year ago

I’d love to know when Hugley is going to return, because the lack of big man depth is hurting Pitt and going to kill them down the stretch

Burton Tee
Burton Tee
1 year ago

Capel is exactly who we thought he is.

JcBvt
JcBvt
1 year ago
Reply to  Burton Tee

Pitt (who was picked to finish at the back of the pack in the ACC) just lost to the only other undefeated team in the league by one point. This after playing, and winning, some truly impressive games over the past few weeks. So out of curiosity, who exactly do “we” think Capel is.

As an aside, I don’t recall electing you to speak on my behalf regarding Pitt basketball. 🤷‍♂️

Burton Tee
Burton Tee
1 year ago
Reply to  JcBvt

Did you watch the same game everyone else did?

He BLEW it.

H2P.

kmp30
kmp30
1 year ago
Reply to  Burton Tee

Just like future hall of fame coach Tony Bennett blew it against us? Give him a break. Shit happens. We’re playing, at the moment, extremely competitive basketball.

Burton Tee
Burton Tee
1 year ago
Reply to  kmp30

Three weeks ago most on this site were ready to fire Capel.

The headline of this article says it all. Why is everyone getting defensive all of a sudden?

We have Capel and we know what we are getting with him.

Please start thinking with their head and not their heart.

H2P.

kmp30
kmp30
1 year ago
Reply to  Burton Tee

They blew a late lead but rallied from a deficit. Come on. The game was anyones, no more than 3 posessions. We’ve been on the other end of this conversation more frequently as of late. Think about that.

Ed Rose
Ed Rose
1 year ago
Reply to  kmp30

They are 10-2 in their last 12 games. Both losses are by 1 point each. The BS charge call when the game was 69-69 against Burton hurt and then the non block call under a minute on Clemson did them in today. They are capable of beating anyone. They are enjoyable to watch too.

Ed Rose
Ed Rose
1 year ago
Reply to  Burton Tee

I like most of your takes on stuff. I was at the game today. I am not seeing what moves he made cost that them. What did he do strategy wise that hurt them? I saw a team go cold at the end By missing very make able shots. The Burton BS terrible charge call where the Clemson dude flopped and the non call of a block at the end against Clemson really hurt and helped Clemson seal the win.

Burton Tee
Burton Tee
1 year ago
Reply to  Ed Rose

I agree with you, to a point on this game. They had the lead late. They played well all game.

Winners finish.

This team simply didn’t. At least in this game.

It’s not surprising.

Capel’s teams have always been way up or down. Leadership starts with him.

Ed Rose
Ed Rose
1 year ago
Reply to  Burton Tee

I feel your pain. I go a lot to the games. The last few years were brutal. This team is different in my eyes. They are at least competitive. Last years team was horrendous. Terrible guard play and poor shooting. Leadership does fall on him. You are right. I think he finally has things going in the right direction.

Last edited 1 year ago by Ed Rose
Rob Radich
Rob Radich
1 year ago
Reply to  Ed Rose

That’s really kind of debatable. The majority of this year’s production is from 5th and 6th year players from the portal. It’s not sustainable program building. Even if they do make the tournament, which isn’t a lock, one appearance in 5 years from a league that regularly receives 8-9 bids is nothing to write home about.

Ed Rose
Ed Rose
1 year ago
Reply to  Rob Radich

Agree it is not conducive to building a program like that on a yearly basis. This team is older players and at least competitive and should get into the post season in some capacity. His incoming recruiting is very good. The hopeful return of Hugley, Jeffress and Dior Johnson and more help from inside the portal could be good, too. They should have Hinson, Federiko, and the Diaz Graham twins returning. They should continue to be better then they have been. The portal if used right can fill in the gaps.

Last edited 1 year ago by Ed Rose
Jane
Jane
1 year ago

What I don’t won’t to see… is what has happened all to often under capel team runs Out of gas and They start losing… I like the team but he’s had teams before I like and then started playing bad and running out of steam halfway through the ACC …. Just saying!

kmp30
kmp30
1 year ago
Reply to  Jane

Yes to this

mike
mike
1 year ago

I said this last week and I will say it again. What the heck is going on with John Hugley?
We are talking about transfer portal guys carrying this team and meanwhile their leading rebounder-scorer last season is sitting on the bench for the past month or more. There’s no talk from the coaching staff on his return. Give the public ( the fans ) something on his timetable for a return. Clemson destroyed Pitt in the paint Saturday. Hugley could have been the difference. I want answers.

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