Pitt
15-14,6-12ACC
Syracuse
16-12,9-8ACC
Pitt Drops Home Finale to Syracuse
2/26/2020 10:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – The Pitt men's basketball team fell to Syracuse, 72-49, on senior night Wednesday in its home finale.
The Panthers honored graduate Eric Hamilton, seniors Kene Chukwuka and Anthony Starzynski and junior Samson George before the game.
Pitt (15-14, 6-12 ACC) led 9-8 with 12 minutes remaining in the first half, but Syracuse (16-12, 9-8) used a 16-4 run to lead 22-13 with 7:41 to play in the half. The Orange's lead extended to double digits with 3:41 on the clock (30-19) and Syracuse went into halftime with a 16 point advantage (37-21).
The Orange outscored Pitt 35-28 and shot 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from three in the second half of play.
Elijah Hughes led all scorers with 25 points, adding nine rebounds and two steals to his night. Joseph Girard III had 16 points and four threes, while Bourama Sidibe posted 13 points, 10 rebounds and five steals.
Justin Champagnie led the Panthers in points and rebounds, recording 13 and 17, respectively. The 17 rebounds is tied for fifth most by a Pitt freshman, while his 14 defensive rebounds is tied for most by a Panther freshman. Champagnie entered the game with 199 career rebounds, and became the sixth Panther freshman to record 200 or more rebounds in a season. The Brooklyn forward also became the fifth Pitt freshman in program history to achieve 300 points and 200 rebounds in the same season.
Sophomores Trey McGowens and Au'Diese Toney each had eight points. Sophomore Xavier Johnson had five points, five assists and two steals.
Pitt is on the road next at NC State Saturday, Feb. 29. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. on the ACC Network.
