PITTSBURGH – Pitt delivered an efficient offensive performance over the final 25 minutes of action to secure the 300th win all-time at the Petersen Events Cetner with a 70-60 victory over Notre Dame Saturday evening. Blake Hinson went 4-of-6 from three-point range and finished with a game-high 17 points, while Carlton Carrington added 16 points and three three-pointers to pace the Panthers offense.
The Panthers, now 14-8 overall and 5-6 in ACC play, head into road games against NC State and Virginia. Pitt scored 58 points on 18-of-31 (.581) shooting from the field, including a 10-of-16 (.625) showing from three-point range over the final 25:45 of game action.
After a slow shooting start to the night, Pitt settled in to finish the first half strong on both sides of the floor.
Ishmael Leggett started a 9-0 run with a three-point play and Carrington capped it off with two threes in a span of three possessions to give the Panthers a 21-19 heading into the under four timeout.
Hinson knocked down a pair of threes in the closing minutes of the half as Pitt used a 16-3 run over the final 4:50 of play to enter the break with a 28-22 advantage. Carrington (10), Hinson (7), and Leggett (7) combined for 24 of the Panthers’ 28 points in the opening 20 minutes of action.
The Panthers went 6-of-8 from the field, including 4-of-6 from three-point range, during the run to close the half after opening the game 4-of-18 from the field and 0-of-9 from three in the first 14 minutes of action.
The Panthers made its first three threes of the second half with Zack Austin, Hinson, Carrington tickling the twine from behind the line to give Pitt a 39-30 edge heading into the under 16 media timeout.
Jaland Lowe hit a wing three off a skip pass from Austin at the 12:55 mark to give the Panthers their first double-digit lead (46-34) and force a Notre Dame timeout. Pitt extended its lead to 17 points on a pair of free throws by Austin with 2:57 remaining and led by 15 in the closing minutes before Notre Dame scored the final five points for the 70-60 final margin.
Pitt shot 52.2 percent (12-of-23) from the field, including 6-of-10 (.600) from beyond the arc in the second half. The Panthers finished the game 10-of-25 (.400) from long range despite missing their first nine attempts from three-point range.
Markus Burton paced Notre Dame with 17 points with Tae Davis adding 16 points.
BACK ON THE BOARDS
Pitt improved to 12-2 on the season when winning the rebounding battle with a 33-28 edge over the Fighting Irish. Federiko Federiko grabbed nine rebounds, while Leggett (5) and Lowe (4) combined for nine rebounds from the guard position.
BUB DELIVERS ANOTHER SCORING DUB
Carrington scored 15 or more points for the third time in four games and 12th time this season. He went 5-fo-10 from the field, including 3-of-6 from three-point range before fouling out.
LEGGETT & LOWE
Leggett and Lowe continued their strong play in ACC action as the tandem combined for 23 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Leggett scored in double-figures for the fifth consecutive game off the bench, while Lowe had 11 points, four rebounds, and five assists. He has now scored in double figures six times in ACC play including five times in the past six contests.
THIS. IS. THE. PETE
Pitt is now 300-91 (.767) all-time at the Petersen Events Center and became just the eighth program to record 300 or more home wins since the 2002-03 season. The Panthers opened the Petersen Events Center with an 82-67 win over Duquesne Nov. 23, 2002.
UP NEXT
Pitt returns to the road to face NC State Wednesday, Feb. 7 at PNC Arena in Raliegh, N.C (7 p.m. – ESPNU).
Source: Matt Plizga/Pitt Athletics
Image: Vince Butts/UMT