Panthers on a Three game winning streak
[Pittsburgh,PA] The Pitt Panthers entered Saturday’s game vs Gardner-Webb on a Three game winning streak. Pitt 3-1 on the year so far after a hard fought come from behind win over Northwestern Wednesday night.
The Gardner-Webb bulldogs were looking to bounce back after a heartbreaking loss to Western Kentucky in their season opener.
That’s 4️⃣ in a row.@JusChampagnie becomes the first player in program history to register back-to-back 20/20 games. #H2P | #ZooEra pic.twitter.com/jYWhufCZjT
— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) December 12, 2020
Pitt began the game with a early 7-0 lead as Gardner-Webb couldn’t buy a bucket. The bulldogs would remain scoreless until 7:43 left in the 1st half. They would heat up as the half went on but by then they trailed 14-0. Digging themselves a hole they would never recover from and gave Pitt a 27-18 lead at halftime.
Pitt was blessed this afternoon because they didnt really shoot well. As a team Pitt shot 23-64(36%) and 1-18 from three point range. To do that and still win by 17 shows you how poorly Gardner-Webb was shooting(Finishing slighty under 30% from the field).
Pitt had a 58-38 edge in rebounding.
The star of the game was Forward Justin Champagnie who continues to emerge as the panthers top player. Champagnie finished with 24 points, 21 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal. He was phenomenal! Point guard Xavier Johnson was the only other panther in double figures with 12 points and 5 assists. Big man Abdoul Karim Coulibaly chipped in with 6 points, 9 rebounds and 1 assist.
Jaheam Cornwall had 13 points and Lance Terry added 10 points for Gardner-Webb.
Justin Champagnie looks like the best player on the Pitt panthers roster and he’s only a sophomore.
Good company. #ZooEra pic.twitter.com/vyD77lqZYJ
— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) December 10, 2020
Champagnie is only the 3rd division 1 player since the 2010-11 season with consecutive 20/20 games. Joining Hofstra’s Rokas Gusty and Purdue’s Caleb Swanigan who did it in 2015-16 and 2016-17 respectively.
When Champagnie scored 20 points and 20 rebounds Wednesday at Northwestern, It was the first time a Pitt player accomplished that feat since Dejuan Blair did it in 2009.
For Pitt, It gets REAL now! This was the last non conference game of the year. Its all ACC games from here on out. The panthers open up conference play Wednesday at 6pm against Miami on the road.
Fan Attendance Halted At Petersen Events Center Following Updated COVID Restrictionshttps://t.co/Z7TDEhY7nS
— Pitt Athletics (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) December 11, 2020
Good win but now with ACC play set to start next week. We will really see what kind of team Pitt has this year.
Keith Platt Jr.
