Pitt
2-2,1-0ACC
West Virginia
2-0,0-0Big 12
Pitt Falls to West Virginia, 68-53
11/15/2019 10:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – The Pitt men's basketball team fell to rival West Virginia, 68-53, in the Backyard Brawl at the Petersen Event Center Friday evening.
Sophomore Trey McGowens led the Panthers with 13 points and shot 2-of-3 from downtown while also adding four rebounds. Freshman Justin Champagnie registered a career-high 12 points and pulled down a team-best five boards, while junior Ryan Murphy added 12 points and knocked down all five of his free throws.
The Mountaineers gained a 9-3 advantage in the first four minutes, but Pitt responded with a 7-0 run to take a 10-9 lead with 12:27 left in the first. West Virginia took a 23-16 lead at the 8:10 mark, however, Pitt used the next three minutes to outscore the Mountaineers 8-3 and trailed by two, 26-24. McGowens hit a three with 1:24 remaining to give Pitt its first lead of the game (35-34) and trailed by one going into the halftime, 36-35.
West Virginia jumped out to a five point lead early in the second (40-35) and extended its lead by eight (45-37) with 15:14 to play. Pitt climbed back and trailed 45-39, only for the Mountaineers to regain control and take a 10 point, 49-39 lead with 11:17 to play. West Virginia held Pitt to 18 points in the second half and shot a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.
West Virginia outrebounded the Panthers, 51-37, and made eight three pointers compared to Pitt's two.
Pitt is back on the floor Monday, Nov. 19 at home against Monmouth. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
