DURHAM, N.C. — Blake Hinson scored 24 points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting from 3-point range as Pitt won in Cameron Indoor Stadium for the first time since 1979, beating No. 7 Duke 80-76 on Saturday night.
Hinson shot 8-of-10 from the floor and collected a team-high eight rebounds as the Panthers (11-7, 2-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) snapped a four-game losing streak against the Blue Devils. Pitt also got 16 points and six assists from Jaland Lowe and 11 points from Ishmael Leggett.
In a loss that ended its eight-game win streak, Duke (13-4, 4-2) was powered by Jared McCain’s 20 points. Kyle Filipowski scored 19 points, and Caleb Foster had 16 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Pitt came out of the gates on fire making its first four shots during 9-0 r4un to open the game. Federiko Federiko started things off with a dunk over Kyle Filipowski on the opening possession, while Hinson drained a transition three, and freshman guard Carrington and Jaland Lowe each hit short jumpers.
Kickstarted by a two-handed dunk from Federiko, Pitt jumped out to a 21-10 lead. Duke battled back, but it seemed like every time the Blue Devils grabbed the lead, Hinson and Lowe were there to answer.
The Panthers led 11-5 lead at the first media timeout extended the lead to 21-10 on a Guillermo Diaz Graham tip-in at the 11:10 mark.
Duke answered with a 16-2 run hitting four three-pointers in that stretch to take a 26-23 lead with just over seven minutes remaining in the half. Pitt responded with a 9-0 run over the next two minutes to pull ahead 32-26.
The Panthers entered the break with a 38-34 advantage as they shot 51.6 percent (16-of-31) from the field and established a 20-10 rebounding edge. Pitt also did a good job controlling the interior with a 20-8 lead in points in the paint.
Hinson made all three three-point attempts and entered the break with 11 points and six rebounds, while Federiko, Carrington, and Lowe each netted six first half points. Duke stayed connected in the first half with timely three-point shooting finishing the half with six threes.
Duke got to the free throw line early and often in the second half to grab a 50-49 lead before Hinson drilled threes on back-to-back possessions to give the Panthers a five-point edge and force a Duke timeout with 12:38 remaining.
The Blue Devils grabbed a 62-61 lead with 7:28 remaining on a pair of Caleb Foster free throws, but Lowe answered with a three for the Panthers. FIlipowski converted a three-point play on the next possession but this time it was Hinson answering from beyond the arc at the 6:35 mark for a 67-65 lead.
Pitt maintained its lead throughout the final 6:35 with Lowe hitting a stepback dagger three late in the shot clock to give the Panthers a 75-71 lead. Lowe went 3-of-4 from the foul line in the final 20 seconds as the Panthers withstood a lengthy review that gave Duke the ball back in the closing minutes of a tight contest.
HINSON MATCHES ACC MARK; SETS PITT STANDARD
Hinson’s 7-of-7 effort from beyond the arc matched an ACC record for most makes without a miss. It was also a Cameron Indoor Stadium opponent record and a Pitt record for most three-point field goals without a miss.
BIG PICTURE
Pitt: With grit and Hinson’s heroics, the Panthers beat a ranked opponent on the road for the first time since Feb. 9, 2013. While Hinson was sharp from beyond the arc, the Panthers excelled inside, winning the rebounding margin by seven and outscoring Duke in the paint 32-18.
Duke: In a messy game where Duke had as many turnovers as assists (11), it could have used the steady presence of senior guard Jeremy Roach, who was out with a knee injury. Sidelined as well — for the second straight game with a knee injury — was sophomore Mark Mitchell, and Duke missed his 5.6 boards per game. The Blue Devils have been out-rebounded in each of their four losses.
UP NEXT
Pitt: Plays its second of three straight road games at Georgia Tech on Tuesday.
Duke: Visits Louisville on Tuesday.
Source: Matt Plizga/ Pitt Athletics
