Panthers Drop Nailbiter at Vanderbilt, 75-74

Wednesday, December 7

Nashville, TN

9 PM

Pitt

6-4,1-0ACC

Vanderbilt

5-4,0-0SEC

Pittsburgh

Vanderbilt

Panthers Drop Nailbiter at Vanderbilt, 75-74

12/8/2022 12:10:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Notes Photo Gallery

NASHVILLE – Pitt used an 8-0 in the closing minutes of play, capped off by a Nelly Cummings 16-foot wing jumper with 15 seconds remaining, to grab a 74-73 lead over Vanderbilt before the Commodores used one last push to overtake the visiting Panthers. Tyrin Lawrence was awarded two foul shots with just 1.1 seconds remaining and made both to secure the Vanderbilt win in a game that featured 11 lead changes and eight ties.

Graduate transfer Greg Elliott led the Panthers with a season-high 20 points, including matching a career-high 6-of-9 from three-point range. Cummings recorded three baskets from beyond the arc to add a season-high 18 points and five assists.

Pitt and Vanderbilt went back-and-forth for the first 13 minutes before Elliott sparked a 10-0 run by knocking down back-to-back three-point field goals. Hinson capped off the run with another three to give Pitt a 27-22 lead with six minutes left in the first half. Vanderbilt continued to put up an offensive fight and tied the game at 34 leading into halftime.

The back-and-forth battle continued into the second half with seven lead changes and six ties. The Commodores joined the party from beyond the arc, knocking down three straight baskets from three-range to take their largest lead of eight points with five minutes left to play. Elliott continued to have the hot hand from deep, hitting a three-pointer to put the Panthers within four at the 2:15 minute mark. The guard hit another three to make it a one-point game with just under a minute left in the game.

Pitt outshot Vanderbilt 48 percent (24-of-50) to 40 percent (28-of-70) from the field and 48 percent (12-of-25) to 32.3 percent (10-of-31) from three-point range.

The Commodores won the rebounding battle 39-31 and outscored the Panthers in the paint 30-12. Vanderbilt took advantage of 15 Pitt turnovers and a sizable rebounding advantage to attempt 20 more shots from the field on the night.

Blake Hinson scored 14 points while Jamarius Burton recorded 10 points and eight rebounds for the Panthers.

Pitt returns to the Petersen Events Center for two non-conference matchups against Sacred Heart Sunday, Dec. 10 (3:30 p.m. – ACCN), followed by North Florida Saturday, Dec. 17 (1 p.m. – ACC Network).