Wednesday, November 25
Pittsburgh, Pa.
7 PM
Pitt
0-1,0-0ACC
70
vs
80
Saint Francis [PA]
1-0,0-0NEC
1
2
F
Saint Francis (PA)
46
34
80
Pittsburgh
33
37
70
Panthers Drop Season Opener to Saint Francis
11/25/2020 10:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – Pitt got off to a slow start as turnovers and cold shooting stymied the Panthers early in an 80-70 season opening loss to Saint Francis Wednesday night at the Petersen Events Center. The loss, Pitt's first in a season opener at the Pete, marked just the fifth time the Panthers have lost a non-conference game in the month of November in the building.
Saint Francis took advantage of early turnovers, converting five Pitt miscues into eight points en route to grabbing a 19-12 lead eight minutes into game action. The Red Flash made a trio of three-pointers in that stretch and continued to hit from deep while extending the lead to 46-33 at the half.
The visitors scored 12 points off 12 first half Pitt turnovers and shot 50.0 percent (17-of-34) from the field in the opening 20 minutes of play, while Pitt scored 33 points on 35.1 percent (13-of-37) shooting from the field. Junior Au'Diese Toney was the lone offensive bright spot in the opening half as he went 6-of-7 from the field with three three-pointers to score 15 points.
Saint Francis continued firing away from deep in the second half and extended the lead to 55-35 with a three from Ramiir Dixon-Conover and back-to-back three-pointers from Maxwell Land.
Pitt continued to chip away at the lead throughout the second half but the Red Flash were able to answer each time and take advantage of the Panthers inability to execute. Down 11 with 7:28 remaining, Pitt committed two turnovers that were converted to points to push the deficit back to 71-54 with 4:55 remaining.
Freshman Will Jeffress came off the bench to spark the Panthers with seven points, four rebounds and one steal. He became the youngest ACC player (17 years, five months, 22 days old) to appear in a game since Brad Daugherty made his collegiate debut for North Carolina in 1982.
Jeffress hit a three-pointer in transition with 3:56 remaining to pull the Panthers within 11 and Pitt trimmed the lead to 10 multiple times in the closing minutes but Saint Francis was able to seal the win at the free throw line.
Toney finished with a team-high 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while adding seven rebounds (five offensive) and three steals. He made a career-high four three-pointers en route to his fourth career 20-point scoring game.
Sophomore Justin Champagnie finished with 12 points and seven rebounds, while junior Xavier Johnson added nine points, five rebounds and 10 assists.
Saint Francis had five players score in double figures with Dixon-Conover leading the way with 21 points. Myles Thompson added 13 points and eight rebounds in the win.
Pitt returns to action Saturday, Nov. 28 at home against Drexel. Game time is set for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra with Kevin Wheeler and Julius Page on the call.
Key Stats
Saint Francis took advantage of early turnovers, converting five Pitt miscues into eight points en route to grabbing a 19-12 lead eight minutes into game action. The Red Flash made a trio of three-pointers in that stretch and continued to hit from deep while extending the lead to 46-33 at the half.
The visitors scored 12 points off 12 first half Pitt turnovers and shot 50.0 percent (17-of-34) from the field in the opening 20 minutes of play, while Pitt scored 33 points on 35.1 percent (13-of-37) shooting from the field. Junior Au'Diese Toney was the lone offensive bright spot in the opening half as he went 6-of-7 from the field with three three-pointers to score 15 points.
Saint Francis continued firing away from deep in the second half and extended the lead to 55-35 with a three from Ramiir Dixon-Conover and back-to-back three-pointers from Maxwell Land.
Pitt continued to chip away at the lead throughout the second half but the Red Flash were able to answer each time and take advantage of the Panthers inability to execute. Down 11 with 7:28 remaining, Pitt committed two turnovers that were converted to points to push the deficit back to 71-54 with 4:55 remaining.
Freshman Will Jeffress came off the bench to spark the Panthers with seven points, four rebounds and one steal. He became the youngest ACC player (17 years, five months, 22 days old) to appear in a game since Brad Daugherty made his collegiate debut for North Carolina in 1982.
Jeffress hit a three-pointer in transition with 3:56 remaining to pull the Panthers within 11 and Pitt trimmed the lead to 10 multiple times in the closing minutes but Saint Francis was able to seal the win at the free throw line.
Toney finished with a team-high 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while adding seven rebounds (five offensive) and three steals. He made a career-high four three-pointers en route to his fourth career 20-point scoring game.
Sophomore Justin Champagnie finished with 12 points and seven rebounds, while junior Xavier Johnson added nine points, five rebounds and 10 assists.
Saint Francis had five players score in double figures with Dixon-Conover leading the way with 21 points. Myles Thompson added 13 points and eight rebounds in the win.
Pitt returns to action Saturday, Nov. 28 at home against Drexel. Game time is set for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra with Kevin Wheeler and Julius Page on the call.
Key Stats
- Saint Francis converted 23 Pitt turnovers into 27 points and held a +19 advantage in points off turnovers
- Pitt grabbed 22 offensive rebounds but was only able to post a 16-13 edge in second chance points
- Pitt shot just 25.0 percent (6-of-24) from three-point range as Johnson, Champagnie and redshirt sophomore Ithiel Horton combined to go 1-of-12 from beyond the arc
Team Stats
SF-PA
Pitt
FG%
.429
.397
3FG%
.360
.250
FT%
.708
.625
RB
38
47
TO
15
23
STL
11
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG/F
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