Pitt G Damian Dunn Sustains Major Injury in Loss to UNC

Pitt graduate guard Damian Dunn fractured his elbow in Saturday’s loss to North Carolina, according to Pitt head coach Jeff Capel. Dunn missed seven games earlier in the season due to separate injuries but has started four of the last eight games for the Panthers.

Dunn attempted a shot in the second half of Pitt’s loss but when he hit the floor, he did not get back up. In what could be his last game as a Panther, Dunn logged 30 minutes and finished with 6 points as he made all four of his free throw attempts.

Overall this season, Dunn appeared in 15 games and averaged 10.2 points per game, 2.5 rebounds per game and 1.7 assists per game. Dunn scored 23 points in the Panthers’ win over West Virginia and a season-high 24 points in the loss to Wake Forest.

Damian Dunn committed to Pitt back in April of 2024 after one season in Houston. As a Cougar, Dunn played in a reserve role as he averaged 6.4 points per game. He started his collegiate career at Temple where he spent his first four seasons.

At Temple, Dunn became a star by his fourth season as he averaged 15.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and three assists per game for the Owls, while shooting 35% from three-point range.

Pittsburgh (14-9 , 5-7 ACC) and North Carolina (14-10, 7-5 ACC) both entered Saturday’s showdown on the bubble and in need of a win to keep an at-large tournament berth within reach. Despite trailing by 11 points at one point in the game, the Panthers had a chance to win it at the buzzer but Ishmael Leggett’s shot bounced off of the rim as Pitt fell at the Dean Smith Center, 67-66.

Pitt will now have to try to break its three-game skid without Dunn as they face another Quad 1 opponent on Tuesday night when they visit SMU. The Mustangs are one of just two Quad 1 chances left for the Panthers who now likely find themselves on the outside of the bubble after the loss to North Carolina.