PITTSBURGH — After a roller coaster second half, Pitt prevailed in a tight battle against Wake Forest on Wednesday as Tyree Appleby’s game-winning attempt missed off the backboard and time expired.
With 30 seconds remaining and a two-point lead, Pitt ran the clock all the way down as far as it could. Jamarius Burton held the ball until the clock read ten seconds to go. However, after he kicked it outside to Blake Hinson and Hinson looked to Greg Elliott, the Panthers had already wasted the entire shot clock and were called for a violation.
After that violation, Pitt earned a much-needed stop as Appleby missed his chance at glory. The Panthers won, 81-79, and Hinson and Elliott were the heroes despite the late violation.
With four minutes to go, Elliott snapped the Panthers’ three-plus minute scoring drought with a three from the wing, and shortly after, Hinson hit another one, his season-best eighth of the night, from his hot spot: the right wing.
However, Wake Forest just would not go away. The Demon Deacons’ star guard Appleby woke up in the second half, hitting a huge three with two minutes left, and then two free throws with one to go, to cut Pitt’s lead to just two.
In the end, the Panthers prevailed behind huge nights from Hinson, Elliott, and their back court. Hinson finished with a game-high 24 points on 8-for-14 shooting, and all of his makes — and attempts — came from beyond the arch. Elliott hit six of his nine three-point attempts for 18 points in the win.
Pitt’s starting back court of Nelly Cummings and Burton set up the team’s shooters all night long, as Burton finished with nine assists and Cummings six.
In the first half, Elliott and Hinson combined for the Panthers’ first 18 points of the game, and all 18 came from behind the three-point arch. Pitt finished the half 10-19 from three-point range with a ten-point lead over the Demon Deacons.
Wake Forest’s Andrew Carr led the way early with ten points and four rebounds in the first frame. Carr, a Delaware transfer, hit three of his six attempts in the half, leading the Demon Deacons alongside Cameron Hildreth, who went 4-5 from the field for eight points.
As Pitt contained Deacons’ star Appleby early, Steve Forbes’ secondary scoring options stepped up in a big way. Five players scored for Wake Forest in the first eight minutes of the second half, led by Hildreth and forward Matthew Marsh, to get right back into this one.
With the win, Pitt improved to 14-7 (7-3 ACC) on the year, while the Demon Deacons fell to 14-7 (6-4 ACC) on the season.
Overall, Wake Forest shot 50.9% from the field, and hit ten of its 27 three-point tries. Appleby and Cameron Hildreth led the way for Steve Forbes’ squad with 15 points each.
During the game, the Panthers honored Pitt Athletics Hall of Famer Jerome Lane on the 35th anniversary of his backboard-shattering dunk back in 1988 at the Fitzgerald Field House. Lane was in attendance, and was honored during the first half of the game.
Pitt’s next game comes on Saturday at home against No. 20 Miami at 4 p.m. That game will tip off on ESPNU live from the Petersen Events Center. Pitt has lost its last two games to the Hurricanes, and has not beaten Jim Larrañaga’s squad since the 2019-20 season.
Great win Pitt!!
Significant rebound from the previous game.
Pitt was really strong from 3-point land. Our two leading scorers had more points than Wake’s best. And just to rub it in: Wake choked at the foul line.. 61%,with two misses at the end of the game. Pathetic!
Hail to Pitt!