Pitt Hoops Wins Fort Myers Tip-Off Tourney

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Pitt Mens Basketball Team at Fort Myers Tip Off Tournament (Photo Credit: Pitt Twitter )

                 Champagnie Leads  Pitt to Title 72-59 Over Northwestern 

FORT MYERS, Fla. Justin Champagnie had 21 points to lead Pittsburgh to a 72-59 victory over
Northwestern in the Fort Myers Tip-Off championship game on Wednesday night.
Eric Hamilton added 10 points and 12 rebounds as the Panthers (6-2) prevailed in a game that featured former Duke teammates and assistant coaches Jeff Capel and Chris Collins.Pat Spencer had 18 points and Bob Buie 13 for Northwestern (3-3).

Champagnie hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the second half to push the Panthers lead to 56-43 with 5 1/2 minutes to play. The Wildcats cut the deficit back to six with just under three minutes left but a 9-0 surge, with Champagnie hitting another 3, sealed the deal.

After a slow start, the Panthers made 7 of 25 treys. At one point, the Panthers were 2 of 33 behind the arc in the tournament. A 13-4 run by Pitt gave it a 17-8 lead in the first half, which ended with the Panthers on top 25-23.

BIG PICTURE:
Northwestern: The Wildcats had a number of good looks against Pitt but couldn’t knock them down. Pete Nance, who averaged 15 points coming into the tournament, scored just 12 in the two games.

Pittsburgh: The Panthers, who play at Louisville on Dec. 6, needed a good showing to build confidence for ACC play. Pitt has started with a win over Florida State.

TWO-SPORT STAR
Northwestern’s Pat Spencer earned all-tournament honors after having 41 points, 11 assists and four 3-pointers in two games. He had 23 points, eight assists and made all three of his 3-pointers in a 78-51 win over Bradley.
His best sport is lacrosse. After earning all-American honors for four consecutive seasons at Loyola (Md.) where he finished with the all-time NCAA assists record, Spencer earned the Tewaaraton Award last year, lacrosses’ version of the Heisman Trophy.

NEXT YEAR
Wisconsin, Butler, Colorado and South Florida will play in the 2020 Fort Myers Tip-Off. Wisconsin made Final Four trips in 2014 and 2015 and Butler reached the national semifinals in 2010 and 2011. Next season will be Year 3 of the Fort Myers Tip-Off. Boston College won the inaugural event.

UP NEXT
Northwestern will play at Boston College on Tuesday in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. Pittsburgh will play host to Rutgers in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge on Tuesday.

www.PittsburghPanthers.com