Pitt Falls to West Virginia in Backyard Brawl

Friday, November 11

Pittsburgh, PA

7 PM

Pitt

1-1,0-0ACC

West Virginia

2-0,0-0Big 12

Team	1	2	F
West Virginia	47	34	81
Pittsburgh	36	20	56

Photo by: Alex Mowrey/Pitt Athletics

Pitt Falls to West Virginia in Backyard Brawl

11/11/2022 10:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Notes Postgame Quotes Pitt West Virginia Photo Gallery

PITTSBURGH – Pitt slipped to 1-1 on the season following a loss to West Virginia Friday evening at the Petersen Events Center. The Mountaineers used big runs at the end of each half en route to their second win over the season.

Jamarius Burton led the Panthers with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Greg Elliott reached double figures with 12 points. Nate Santos came off the bench to deliver seven points and seven rebounds and Nelly Cummings added eight points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field in just 22 minutes of action before fouling out with 7:38 remaining in the contest.

Pitt was outscored 20-7 after Cummings departure. The Panthers shot just 33.0 percent from the field, including 0-of-11 from three-point range in the second half of play.

West Virginia took advantage of John Hugley IV's absence on the interior outscoring Pitt 36-22 in points in the paint. The Mountaineers also received an outstanding effort from their reserves as Joe Toussaint (18), Mohamed Wague (11) and Tre Mitchell (8) combined for 37 of the squad's 42 bench points.

Erik Stevenson (16) and Emmitt Matthews, Jr. (10) also scored in double figures for the Mountaineers.

Elliott buried three consecutive threes to snap Pitt out of slow start that included turnovers on its first three possessions of the game. He was fouled on a corner three at the 15:40 and made the ensuing free throw to give the Panthers an early 15-10 lead.

West Virginia used a 9-0 run to grab a 26-19 lead with 11:20 left in the half, but the Panthers responded with a 7-0 run as Santos came off the bench for a pair of buckets to tie the game at 26 with 7:34 left in the half.

The Mountaineers slowly climb ahead over the final 4:54 of the half with a 16-6 run to grind out a 47-36 halftime advantage. West Virginia got eight points from the foul line over the closing stretch and was 9-of-13 from the foul line in the opening half.

Pitt was plagued in the opening half by foul trouble as four starters were saddled with two or more fouls in the opening 20 minutes of play. Blake Hinson missed the final 10:39 of the half after picking up his second foul on a hand-check call, while Burton played just over 10 minutes in the first half. Cummings picked up his third foul of the half in the closing minute of play on an offensive foul call.

The Panthers return to action next week in Brooklyn, N.Y., in the Legends Classic. Pitt will open the event Wednesday at the Barclays Center against No. 22 Michigan.