Minnesota Edges Pitt in Big Ten/ACC Challenge

Tuesday, November 30

Pittsburgh, Pa.

7 PM

Pitt

2-5,0-0ACC

Minnesota

6-0,0-0Big Ten

Minnesota

Pittsburgh

Photo by: Matt Hawley/Pitt Athletics

Minnesota Edges Pitt in Big Ten/ACC Challenge

11/30/2021 9:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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PITTSBURGH – Sophomore John Hugley scored 25 points and grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds, but the Panthers couldn't prevail, falling to Minnesota 54-53 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge Tuesday evening.

Hugley finished 50% from the field (9-of-16) in 35 minutes of action. Sophomore Femi Odukale and senior Jamarius Burton each finished with six points, while graduate student Mouhamadou Gueye totaled 11 rebounds and a block.

The Panthers outrebounded the Golden Gophers 40-33 and led in points in the paint (28-20) and second chance points (10-6). Minnesota forced 12 turnovers and registered 16 points off those turnovers.

In a game that saw 12 lead changes and eight ties, Minnesota (6-0) scored the first basket of the game at the 16:04 mark of the first half. Pitt scored its first basket at the 14:44 mark off a Hugley layup and the game was at a 9-9 tie after the second media timeout. The Golden Gophers led by as much as six (17-11) before the Panthers came back and eventually took a 21-20 advantage.

Hugley sent Pitt into halftime with the lead (24-22), connecting a three-point shot at the buzzer for his 15^th first half point.

Pitt opened up the second half with a seven point cushion (29-22) before Minnesota went on a 10-2 run to take a 32-31 lead. A three-pointer from sophomore William Jeffress, a pair of Hugley free throws and back-to-back jumpers from Odukale and senior Onyebuchi Ezeakudo helped propel a 9-0 run for the Panthers for their biggest lead of the night, 42-34.

The game saw three ties and four lead changes from the 7:05 mark until the final 30 seconds. Pitt led 53-52 with 12 seconds to go, but a missed Burton jumper and a Minnesota rebound allowed the Golden Gophers to set up on their own end after a called timeout. Minnesota's E.J. Stephens missed a jumper, but an offensive rebound tip-in from Luke Loewe gave the Golden Gophers a 54-53 lead with 2.4 seconds remaining. Odukale's half court heave was unsuccessful and the Panthers fell at home for the third-straight contest.

The Panthers shot 38.5% (20-52) from the field for the game and 66.7% from the line (10-15).

Pitt is back in action Friday, Dec. 3 on the road as it opens up Atlantic Coast Conference play against Virginia. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. on the ACC Network.