PITTSBURGH — On Tuesday, Pitt (9-3, 0-1 ACC) defeated previously one-loss Purdue Fort Wayne, 62-48, in the final non-conference game of the season at the Petersen Events Center.
Purdue Fort Wayne entered play 11-1 and No. 80 in NET rankings, with the program’s lone loss to San Francisco. The Mastodons (11-2, 2-0 Horizon) began the game No. 14 in the country in scoring, but it took well over six minutes (6:29) for the Mastodons to record their first basket.
Pitt (No. 40 in NET) started the game on an 8-0 run before the first media timeout.
The Panthers dictated play for most of the first half. A good find from Jaland Lowe to Federiko Federiko helped power Pitt’s offense in a low-scoring affair.
Pitt took control, 19-8, with under eight minutes left in the first 20 minutes of action, thanks in part to seven Mastodon turnovers. All five Panthers starters stuffed the stat sheet as Blake Hinson, Bub Carrington, Will Jeffress, Ishmael Leggett, and Guillermo Diaz Graham each scored, and all but Jeffress totaled two or more rebounds at the break in action.
Leggett found a cutting Guillermo on a straight line to the basket on a fast break for his second dunk of the game with just over six minutes to go in the first half to pad Pitt’s lead to 23-8.
In a game now defined by your ability to stretch behind the arc and make a three-point shot, the first 18 attempts of the game were missed. It took over 15 and a half minutes for the game’s first three. Maximus Nelson drained a straight-on triple with 4:24 to go in the first half to end a 0-for-18 skid to begin play.
Both teams shot 1 of 13 from three through 20 minutes in an overall sloppy game. Guillermo Diaz Graham paced the Panthers with team highs in points (nine) and rebounds (six). Hinson only tallied two on 1 of 6 shooting in 17 and a half minutes, as Pitt shot only 33%. Purdue Fort Wayne didn’t fair any better (31%) and was led by Jalen Jackson (six) as the team turned the ball over 10 times. Pitt gave it away on eight possessions.
A dreary offensive night picked up out of the break with Pitt beginning on a 10-5 run. Overall, the night was filled with sloppy possessions giveaways. On back-to-back possessions, Zack Austin and Ishmael Leggett threw football-type passes too far from their intended target for back-to-back turnovers. Purdue Fort Wayne cut a 45-24 Pitt lead to 13 with an 8-0 run (11:46 remaining) in which the Panthers were held scoreless for over two and a half minutes.
The Panthers shook out of the rut and remained in the driver’s seat, not letting the Mastodons cut the deficit inside single digits. Pitt controlled the remainder of play in the second half en route to a solid victory. Purdue Fort Wayne made only 4 of 21 (19%) three-point attempts with under eight minutes left.
Pitt passed the 60-point mark with five minutes left on an Austin dunk but only scored two points to close the game. Guillermo Diaz Graham led or tied for the team lead in points (13) and assists (three). He also added eight rebounds. Hinson finished with more rebounds (10) than points (five) in 32 minutes. The Panthers shot 36% from the floor and a meager 2 of 20 (10%) from three in the 14-point victory. Bello paced Purdue Fort Wayne with 13 points. Both teams recorded 13 turnovers.
With the win, Pitt closed non-conference play 9-3 overall and 9-2 against non-conference opponents The Panthers resume conference action (0-1) at Syracuse inside the Carrier Dome in the final game of 2023 on Dec. 30.
weird shooting game. probably due to PFW’s style of play. regardless, i thought the D played very well. strong closeouts and fast weakside help and doubles. had not seen PFW play before but wow, they really had an off night or they just didn’t match up well with our length, etc. somewhat crazy that we put up more shots than they did .. maybe due to the rebound disparity. H2P !