Pitt Drops Ugly Road Game to Florida State, 82-70

On Wednesday night, Pitt fell to Florida State in Tallahassee behind a big performance from Seminoles star Jamir Watkins and a brutal night all-around for the Panthers.

Jeff Capel’s team came out cold, missing their first four shots and turning the ball over five times in the first 4:10 of action. The struggles continued throughout the half, as Pitt made just six of its first 22 shots and turned the ball over 14 times in the half — a number that is four more than the team’s average heading into the game. Point guard Jaland Lowe was 0-2 from the field with six turnovers in the half, as Florida State sent double teams his way and he struggled with the Seminoles’ approach.

Ishmael Leggett was a bright spot for the Panthers offensively, scoring nine points and making all four of his free throws. In addition, Zack Austin grabbed five rebounds, and Cam Corhen grabbed six rebounds in the half for Pitt. Although Pitt looked rough throughout the half, so did the opposition. FSU shot just 28% from the field and turned the ball over ten times as a team. At the break, the Seminoles led 28-23.

In the second half, the Panthers found Austin for an early three pointer, and he converted to cut the lead down to one. However, after Pitt scored the half’s first four points, Florida State scored the next ten, concluding with an alley-oop to big man Malique Ewin, who increased his point total to 13 with the finish at the rim.

Out of a timeout, Pitt’s Papa Amadou Kante made a layup off a pass from Lowe with less than 16 minutes to play. However, on the next trip down the floor, Pittsburgh’s own Alier Maluk converted an and-one layup in the lane, giving Austin his fourth foul and extending FSU’s lead up to 12.

Each time Pitt tried to inch back into the game with a basket, the Seminoles made them pay on the other end of the floor. Lowe picked up his career-high eighth turnover with more than 13 minutes to play, traveling with the ball while down 14.

Four minutes later, Florida State’s Daquan Davis drained a three pointer after crossing over Pitt’s Lowe, advancing FSU’s lead up to 16. The Panthers were desperate for a comeback, but their 1 for 8 shooting slump was not going to help.

With less than ten minutes to play, Jorge Diaz Graham stepped into a contested corner three pointer and drained it trimming the lead down to 11. Davis then left the game with an injury, and it appeared as though Pitt had taken back some momentum. Minutes later, Diaz Graham knocked down another, cutting the lead down to eight.

Jorge tres (x2)#H2P / 📺 ESPNU pic.twitter.com/AFUs2fCcAA

— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) January 16, 2025

With less than seven minutes to play, Pitt continued to fight. After another three from Austin, the Panthers’ run extended to 12-2. After two free throws from FSU, the lead was eight once again. But Diaz Graham, Pitt’s key player of the game, was not done. The Spaniard knocked down another corner three, cutting the lead down to just five with 5:30 to play.

Despite repeated efforts from Pitt, the Seminoles closed out the win at the free-throw line. Leonard Hamilton’s team did not make a field goal from the 5:01 mark down to the 25-second mark, clinching the win with 17 free throws in the final five minutes. Florida State dunked the ball twice in the final 25 seconds of the win.

With the loss, Pitt falls to 12-5 on the year and 3-3 in ACC play. The Panthers will now take on Clemson at home on Saturday.