WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.V. – Sophomore Jaland Lowe scored a career-high 22 points to go along with eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals, while senior Ishmael Leggett added 21 points, six rebounds, and five steals to lead Pitt to a 74-63 win over LSU in the Greenbrier Tip-Off at Colonial Hall at the world-renowned Greenbrier Resort. Pitt improved to 6-0 on the season and advanced to the championship game of the event scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 24 (5:30 p.m. – CBS Sports Network).
Cameron Corhen also had a strong outing with 14 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Zack Austin came off the bench to contribute 10 points. Pitt shot 63.6 percent (14-of-22) from the field and 88.9 percent (16-of-18) from the foul line in the second half to pull away from the Tigers.
Leggett hit a wing jumper on the first possession of the game and Pitt grabbed a 21-13 advantage on a Brandin Cummings three with 9:26 remaining in the half. LSU responded with a 15-6 run, aided by a technical foul with 4.9 seconds left in the half, to enter the break with a 28-27 advantage.
Pitt overcame its first halftime deficit of the season as well as an eight-rebound deficit on the glass in the first half to outrebound the Tigers, 36-35, for the game.
Cold-shooting plagued the Panthers in the first half as Pitt went just 10-of-32 (.313) from the field, including 4-of-16 (.250) from three-point range, to trail at the halftime break for the first time this season. Despite the shooting struggles Pitt held the lead for 17:48 of the opening half, while LSU led for just eight seconds.
Leggett scored 10 points in the half to go along with three rebounds and three steals, while Corhen added six points and three assists. LSU shot just 36.7 percent (11-of-30) in the half, but made three of its final four shots of the half to erase a six-point deficit in the final 2:08 of action.
Pitt came out of the halftime break with great energy with Lowe knocking down a three and Leggett getting a steal and lay-in. Lowe then found Corhen streaking down the court for his fourth dunk of the game and a 34-28 Pitt lead that forced an LSU timeout with 18:47 remaining.
The Panthers extended the run to 13-0 before the under 16 media timeout as Austin delivered a two-hand reserve dunk off a flex cut and added a pair of free throws as Pitt’s defense put the Tigers on their heals to open the half.
Pitt went through a 4:35 field goal drought as LSU got within five points (43-38) with 10:52 remaining before Lowe scored eight points in a span of 1:23 to push the Panthers back ahead by double-figures.
Lowe hit back-to-back threes before his baseline floater at the 9:03 mark gave the Panthers a 50-40 advantage.
LSU got to within four in the final six minutes on a four-point play by Vyctorius Miller and a driving finish by Dji Bailey with 5:41 remaining in the half.
Lowe went 6-of-6 from the foul line down the stretch and found Corhen for a pair of dunks, while Leggett added a tough finish through contact and a pair of free throws as Pitt closed the game on a 16-9 run.
BACKCOURT EXCELLENCE
Pitt’s backcourt tandem of Lowe and Leggett combined for 43 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, and eight steals while playing 79:55 of a possible 80 minutes. Lowe scored 19 of his career-high 22 points in the second half on 5-of-8 shooting from the field, including 3-of-4 from three-point range.
SLAM CORHEN
Corhen went 7-of-11 from the field with all seven field goals coming on dunks. The Allen, Texas native posted his sixth consecutive game with at least 12 points and five rebounds, while shooting at least 60 percent from the field.
SECOND HALF SURGE
Pitt opened the second half with a 13-0 run holding LSU to 0-of-13 shooting from the field over the first 6:43 of the half. The 13-0 run was the largest of the season.
DOUBLE-DIGIT WINS
The Panthers have won each of the first six games of the season by double figures. Pitt is now 6-0 to open the season for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign.
UP NEXT
Pitt will play the winner of the Wisconsin/UCF game in the Greenbrier Tip-Off championship game Sunday, Nov. 24 (5:30 p.m. – CBS Sports Network).
