Pitt Hosts Towson Friday Night at the Petersen Events Center

Pitt (1-2, 0-0 ACC) vs. Towson (2-1, 0-0 CAA)
Friday, Nov. 19, 2021 • 6:00 PM
Pittsburgh, Pa. • Petersen Events Center
ACC Network Extra • 93.7 The Fan

THE OPENING TIP
• Pitt hosts Towson Friday, Nov. 19 in the second game of a five-game homestand. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. with Roy Philpott and Dan Bonner calling the action on the ACC Network.
• Friday's contest is Pitt's second consecutive game against a team out of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The Panthers are 13-6 against opponents currently in the CAA.
• The Panthers are 160-12 all-time at the Petersen Events Center in non-conference play, including a 74-6 mark in the month of November.
• John Hugley has scored in double figures in each of the first three games of the season. He ranks among the ACC leaders in scoring (T-5th - 19.0 ppg.), rebounding (7th - 9.0 rpg.) and offensive rebounds (3rd - 3.67 orpg.).
• Pitt was set to return three of its top six scorers from last season in the backcourt trio of Ithiel Horton (8.9 ppg., 43 3FG), Nike Sibande (6.9 ppg., .436 3FG pct.) and Femi Odukale (6.6 ppg.). Sibande was lost for the season after suffering a torn ACL in a Nov. 1 and Horton was suspended just prior to the start of the season. Odukale is averaging 14.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
• Pitt's starting lineup consists of four underclassmen, including three members of the sophomore class - John Hugley, William Jeffress and Femi Odukale. The trio combines to average 39.3 points, 21.0 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game for the Panthers.

BY THE NUMBERS
• John Hugley returns for the 2021-22 season after missing the final 15 games last season due to suspension. Through three games, he has posted two double-doubles, while averaging 19.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.
• Pitt is currently playing without its top five scorers from a season ago with a season-ending injury to Nike Sibande, a suspension of Ithiel Horton, the departure of Justin Champagnie to the NBA and two offseason transfers. Femi Odukale (6.6 ppg.) and John Hugley (5.1 ppg.) are the only returning players to average better than 5.0 points per game last season. The tandem has combined for 54.7 percent (99-of-181) of the team's scoring through three games.
• Mouhamadou Gueye, the 2021 America East Defensive Player of the Year while, has recorded five blocks over the past two games. He has recorded two or more blocks in 37 of 57 career games and is averaging 2.37 blocks per game for his career.
• Femi Odukale is averaging 14.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 46.9 percent (45-of-96) from the field in nine career games when playing over 25 minutes.
• Dan Oladapo made his first six shots of the seaosn and is 8-of-10 from the field overall. He is now shooting 56.5 percent (281-of-497) from the field for his career. In the past two games, Oladapo is averaging 8.5 points and 3.0 offensive rebounds per game, while going 7-of-9 (.778) from the field.
• Jamarius Burton made his season debut in the win over UNC Wilmington after missing the previous five weeks with a knee injury. The Charlotte, N.C., native is averaging 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game over 91 career games.
• William Jeffress is averaging 7.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, while going 5-of-10 from the field over the past two games.
• Pitt have scored 34 points in the paint in each of the first three games of the season. Interior scoring has accounted for 56.4 percent (102-of-181) of the team's points. John Hugley has scored 40 of his 57 points this season in the paint.
• The Panthers currently lead the ACC in rebound margin (+11.3) and are second in total rebounds (42.0 rpg.). John Hugley (7th - 9.0 rpg.; 3rd - 3.67 orpg.) and William Jeffress (T-14th - 7.7 rpg.; T-6th - 3.00 orpg.) rank among the league leaders in rebounds and offensive rebounds.
• Pitt has been plagued by turnovers in its past two games with the opposition scoring 46 points off 49 turnovers in that span.
• Pitt is 24-8 (.750) against teams outside the Atlantic Coast Conference under head coach Jeff Capel.
• Pitt has been outscored 84-18 from three-point range this season. The Panthers have taken one fewer three-point field goal attempt (27) than three-point makes (28) from the opposition through the first three games.
• Pitt and Towson have combined for 163 free throw attempts through the first three games of the season, Both teams are attempting over 25 free throws per game. The Panthers are currently last in the ACC in free throw percentage (.532), while the Tigers are shooting at a 73.3 percent clip.
• The Panthers held UNC Wilmington to just four points on one field goal and two free throws over the final 9:13 of play. The Seahawks went 0-of-10 shooting from the field in the final 6:00 of action in Tuesday night's contest.

PANTHER SPOTLIGHTS
• John Hugley has two double-doubles in the first three games of the season. He is averaging 19.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
• Femi Odukale has scored 15 or more points in three of his past four games as a Panther. He is averaging 17.5 points per game in that span.

Pitt Hosts Towson Friday Night at the Petersen Events Center

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Players Mentioned

Jamarius Burton

Justin Champagnie

Mouhamadou Gueye

Ithiel Horton

John Hugley IV

William Jeffress

Femi Odukale

Dan Oladapo

Nike Sibande