Balanced Attack Leads Pitt to Lopsided Win Over Northern Illinois

Saturday, December 5

Pittsburgh, Pa.

7 PM

Pitt

2-1,0-0ACC

Northern Illinois

0-3,0-0MAC

Northern Ill.

Pittsburgh

Balanced Attack Leads Pitt to Lopsided Win Over Northern Illinois

12/5/2020 10:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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PITTSBURGH – Sophomore Justin Champagnie recorded a game-high 22 points to go along with 10 rebounds to lead four double-figure scorers as Pitt posted an 89-59 win over Northern Illinois Saturday evening at the Petersen Events Center. The guard trio of Xavier Johnson, Ithiel Horton and Au'Diese Toney each scored 15 points as Pitt's offense was clicking for the entire 40 minutes of action.

The Panthers shared the ball early and often en route to recording 26 assists on 30 made field goals. The 26 assists was the most under head coach Jeff Capel and the most by Pitt since recording 29 assists in a Nov. 14, 2016 win over Gardner-Webb.

"Well, first of all I am really, really proud of our guys for how we played today. I thought we did a good job defensively in the second half," said head coach Jeff Capel. "[Trendon] Hankerson got going for them in the first half, had 15 points and so we tried to take the ball out of his hands and ball screen. I thought our guys did a good job of executing that, maybe since I've been here it's the best job we've done of sharing the basketball. Twenty-six assists on 30 field goals is pretty incredible so, really, really proud of that and seeing our guys genuinely excited for each when guys had success, so it was another good step for us."

Pitt also shined from behind the three-point line, making 14 three-point field with Horton and Champagnie leading the way with five and four threes, respectively. The Panthers entered the contest making just 5.5 threes per game and shooting 25.6 percent from long range. The 14 made three-pointers is now tied for second in program history.

The Panthers jumped out to a 15-9 lead by the first media timeout as Toney knocked down a pair of three-pointers and added a pull-up in the lane to score a quick eight points.

Pitt collected assists on its first eight baskets and on 14 of 16 first half field goals.

Hankerson kept NIU within striking distance with 10 points in the opening eight minutes of play. The Huskies cut the deficit to three points at 23-20 with 11:14 left in the half before Pitt closed the half on a 22-9 run to secure a 16-point lead at intermission.

Champagnie had 10 points and Johnson added nine during the Pitt run to close the half. The tandem finished the half with 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field.

The Panthers led by 18 late in the half before Hankerson stopped an 11-0 Pitt run and ended a 4+ minute NIU scoring draught with a runner off the glass with under 15 seconds left in the half.

Horton drilled a trio of threes in a three-minute span early in the second half to push the lead 24 points with 14:34 remaining in the contest. Pitt never looked back and led by as much as 36 points before securing its first 30-point win since topping Maryland Eastern Shore, 78-43, Dec. 15, 2018.

"I tried not to put a lot of pressure on myself coming into the season, but I mean the first few games obviously showed that I put more pressure on myself than I thought," said Horton about putting pressure on himself. "The difference today was just me actually believing I can actually play on this level and come out here and actually make the shots that I can shoot."

The Panthers went on to shoot 58.3 percent (14-of-24) from the field in the second half, while the defense tightened to hold NIU to 7-of-27 (.259) shooting after halftime.

All 17 players on the Pitt roster played in the contest with 12 players scoring for the Panthers.

Key Stats

Pitt finished with a season-best 26 assists … the Panthers recorded assists on their first eight field goals and on 14 of 16 first half field goals.
The Panthers held NIU to 29.3 percent (12-of-41) shooting from the field over the final 31 minutes of play … the Huskies started the game 8-of-12 (.667) from the field.
Pitt scored 33 points off 18 Northern Illinois turnovers … the Panthers had a 33-3 edge in points off turnovers for the game.
Pitt's 14 three-point field goals are the most under Capel and tied for the second most in a game in program history.

Up Next
Pitt: The Panthers travel to Evanston, Ill., to face Northwestern Wednesday, Dec. 9 (9:15 p.m. – ESPNU) in an ACC-Big Ten Challenge contest. Pitt topped the Wildcats, 82-59, last season in the title game of the Fort Myers Tip-Off. Last season's matchup marked the first time former college teammates and close friends Jeff Capel and Chris Collins faced one another as head coaches.

Northern Illinois: The Huskies host Ball State Tuesday, Dec. 8.