The Pitt Panthers suffered their first loss of the season in a 69-68 nail biter vs. #14 Iowa and sought to get back to their winning ways vs. the Duquesne Dukes in the annual City Game at the PPG Paints Arena and they didn’t disappoint as they hold onto the City Game Trophy in a 74-53 victory.
“I’m really proud of our guys for this win.” Said Pitt Head Coach Jeff Capel. “I was really worried about this game after that gut-punching loss. We really played had at Iowa. I thought they got the best of us early, we were out of character, but in the second half, we were able to find our rhythm.”
Freshman Trey McGowens led 4 Pitt players in double-figures with 14 points. He also led with 5 assists. G Malik Ellison (13), Darius Wilson-Frame (12) and Xavier Johnson (10) also scored in double-figures. Au’Diese Toney led with 9 rebounds and Kene Chuwuka added 8 as the Panthers improved to 7-1 on the season.
“He has a knack for the ball.” Capel said about Chuwuka “And I think that’s what makes a great rebounder. Having a knack for the ball.”
Although the Panthers out-rebounded the Dukes 42-33, the struggled from the 3-point line, going 3-10 in the game (30%) and what made matters worse, they trailed the Dukes 8-0 to begin the game as they looked outmatched to larger-sized Dukes, but the Panthers eventually got it together and once they took a 16-15 lead, they never trailed the Dukes again.
“I thought we were just out of it.” Said Capel on his team’s first half. “It’s a learning experience. I felt like our veterans stepped up for us particularly Darius (Wilson-Frame). It was probably the 2nd half around the 10-minute mark ‘Now our team is back.’ In the first half we were so dis- jointed, but I feel in the second half we were able to get back our rhythm.”
Unlike his predecessor Kevin Stallings, Capel is 1-0 in his first City Game. “It was great.” Said Capel of his first City Game experience. “I thought the crowd was awesome, and you could feel the energy in the place.”
The Dukes certainly weren’t easy to fight off as they went toe-to-toe with the Panthers most of the game. In addition to their size advantage, they hustled on offense and defense. G Michael Hughes led all scorers with 20 points and 10 rebounds. He also went 3-5 from 3-point range.
On Hughes, Capel said “I thought Hughes was someone to look at coming in, and he is a really good player who’s getting better and better. “Hopefully next year it’ll be a better game.”
But like most of the City Games, it was the Panthers talent that had the edge in this game, which usually means victory.
“Sure, we were a little frustrated, but we have to be a little more competitive when you get smacked.” Said Duquesne Head Coach Keith Dambrot “Our guard plays gotta be better than that if we want to win. Offensively the guards must play better. We just gotta play better on the perimeter, just have to go back to the drawing board.”
Dambrot on Capel “You can tell he has imposed his will on them, based on who he’s playing and who he’s not playing.”
The Panthers must now prepare to return to the Petersen Events Center Monday Night to face Niagara as they prepare to wrap-up their non-conference schedule.
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