DALLAS – Guillermo Diaz Graham finished with 15 points and eight rebounds, but it wasn’t enough as Pitt fell to a hot-shooting SMU team Tuesday evening at Moody Coliseum.
The Panthers slipped to 14-10 overall and 5-8 in the ACC as they shot just 31.8 percent (21-of-66) from the field, including 9-of-35 (.257) from three-point range. SMU improved to 19-5 overall and 10-3 in league play.
Diaz Graham hit a three at 15:18 mark to cut the Pitt deficit to 12-8, but SMU used some hot shooting from beyond the arc to push the lead to double digits. The Mustangs made five of their first seven attempts from beyond the arc, including three consecutive threes to grab a 23-13 lead at the under 12 media timeout.
The Panthers missed 10 consecutive shots from the field midway through the half and SMU took advantage of a series of turnovers to extend the lead. Diaz Graham ended the drought with a three-point play at the under four media timeout and Pitt went into the break trailing by 16 as Zack Austin’s buzzer beater was waived off upon review.
Pitt shot just 26.5 percent (9-of-34) from the field, including 5-of-20 (.250) from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes. SMU shot 57.7 percent (15-of-26) from the field and took advantage of a 14-0 edge in points off turnovers and an 18-2 margin in points in the paint.
Pitt battled throughout the second half but SMU had an answer for every swing in momentum. The Panthers cut the lead to 14 on a Brandin Cummings three with 9:15 remaining and again at the 6:18 mark on a Diaz Graham dunk but SMU answered with 9-0 run to put the game away.
Cummings finished with 12 points, three assists, and two steals, while filling in at point after Jaland Lowe went out in the second half after being hit in the head on a collision with Boopie Miller in the second half. Ishmael Leggett added 10 points, six rebounds, and two steals, while Austin finished with eight points, six rebounds, and three blocks.
SMU was led by Same Yigitoglu and Kario Oquendo who each finished with 17 points. Yigitoglu added 10 rebounds, while Matt Cross (13) and Boopie Miller (13) also scored in double figures.
The Mustangs went 10-of-20 from three-point range on the night as Oquendo came off the bench to go 4-of-6 from long range.
UP NEXT
Pitt returns home to host Miami Saturday, Feb. 15 (12 pm – ESPN2) at the Petersen Events Center.
