McGowens, Champagnie Lead Panthers Past North Carolina, 73-6
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Trey McGowens scored 24 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out eight assists and recorded four steals in a 73-65 victory against North Carolina on Wednesday night at the Dean E. Smith Center.
Bounced back in a big way 😤#H2P | #ZooEra pic.twitter.com/2pHa86yMlA
— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) January 9, 2020
The win snapped a 22-game conference road losing streak, winning for the first time since it defeated Boston College 83-72 on Feb. 8, 2017. Justin Champagnie added 22 points for the Panthers (11-4, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who rallied from a 14-point deficit late in the first half.
Pittsburgh won on the road in league play for the first time since it defeated Boston College 83- 72 on Feb. 8, 2017.
That’s what’s required. #ZooEra pic.twitter.com/oWgN5OXchA
— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) January 9, 2020
McGowens snapped a 56-56 tie by scoring eight consecutive points in a 90-second span, giving the Panthers the lead for good with seven minutes remaining. Xavier Johnson scored 17 points for the Panthers. Pittsburgh stormed back with a 16-4 run early in the second half and made 8 of 12 3-pointers after halftime.
Garrison Brooks had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead North Carolina (8-7, 1-3). Armando Bacot added 15 points and Brandon Robinson had 13 points for the Tar Heels, who lost for the sixth time in eight games.
YKTV 🗣 #ZooEra pic.twitter.com/BOPNXT9Bia
— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) January 9, 2020
North Carolina coach Roy Williams remained tied with Dean Smith, his mentor, for the fourth most wins in Division I men’s basketball history. Williams, who worked as an assistant for Smith at North Carolina for 10 seasons from 1978-88, has 879 career victories as a head coach.
BIG PICTURE
Pittsburgh: The school announced a two-year contract extension (through the 2026-27 season) for coach Jeff Capel on Wednesday morning, and Capel wasted no time rewarding the administration’s faith. It was a breakthrough win for the Panthers, who bounced back after falling to Wake Forest at home last week.
North Carolina: The Tar Heels are in trouble. They just lost back-to-back home games to teams projected to finish in the bottom half of the ACC, and much tougher games loom in February. Four days after allowing Georgia Tech to shoot 59% from the floor in a 96-83 home loss, the Tar Heels let Pittsburgh shoot 58% in the second half.
UP NEXT
Pittsburgh: With their skid over, the Panthers get a chance on Sunday at Miami to build a road winning streak in ACC play.
North Carolina: The Tar Heels host Clemson on Saturday. Their 59-0 all-time home record against the Tigers is the longest home winning streak against a single opponent in NCAA history.
Sources: www.PittsburghPanthers.com