[Pittsburgh, PA] The Pitt Panthers returned home ( Petersen Event Center) tuesday night to host long time rival Syracuse. This is the second meeting between the two teams this season. Syracuse won the meeting January 11th 2022. Syracuse defeated Pitt 77-61 at the Carrier Dome.
The Panthers overcame a slow start to defeat Syracuse 64-53
Pitt started the the 1st half very and seemed out of sync early on. Shooting only 22% from the floor with eight turnovers.
Syracuse got off to a fast start with a 10 point lead late in the 1st half.. Senior shooting guard Buddy Boehim was in a groove in the 1st half leading the orange with 14 points, 12 coming from the 3point line.
Early in the game Pitt and Syracuse had a few scoreless possessions until Syracuse F Cole Swinder scored the first points of the game.
Pitt tried to score in the paint repeatedly, but was swarmed by Syracuse’s interior defense especially early in the first half.
The first 11 minutes Syracuse held Pitt to 4/19 shooting and 1/7 from 3 point range and 5 turnovers. Syracuse held Pitt to a poor first half shooting,but they couldnt buy a bucket either shooting 35% from the floor and 40% from 3 point range.
Pitt trailed 28-24 at Halftime
The 2nd half both teams shot bricks for the first few possessions, until Syracuse F Cole Swider made a jumpshot. Pitt meanwhile hit a 3 pointer and Syracuse matched it with a field goal to bring the score to 32-27.
After a Syracuse timeout, Pitt SG Jamarius Burton hit a pull up 3 pointer making it a one possession game.
Buddy Boehim missed the following shot which led to Pitt F John Hugley making a sweet outlet pass to F/C Mouhamadou Gueye who had a breakaway dunk to tie the game at 37 apiece. The lead lasted only 23 seconds until Buddy Boehim made a basket and got fouled, which gave Syracuse a 3 point lead.
Pitt didnt give up and came storming back with back to back buckets taking their first lead of the game 44-40 following a layup by G Femi Okudale at the 11:33 mark in the 2nd half and never looked back.
Syracuse struggled in the 2nd half shooting the ball. The Orange went 6/20 from the field, 0/7 from long distance and 6/11 from the foul line.
Pitt F/C Mouhamadou Gueye finished with 19 pts 11rbs. G Jamarius Burton had 21pts 5 rbs and 6 assists. F John Hugley chipped in 11pts and 18 rebounds.
Syracuse two guard Buddy Boehim led the orange with 25pts.
The Panthers were 6/12 from 3 point range in the 2nd half.
Syracuse Point Guard Joe Girard was 1/9 shooting. He finished with just 3 points. He came into tonight’s game averaging 14ppg.
Syracuse now has lost 3 of its last 4 games. The Orange host Wake Forest Saturday, Pitt plays at Boston College on Saturday.
