Pitt
3-0,0-0ACC
Florida Gulf Coast
1-2,0-0ASUN
Pitt Grinds Out 86-74 Win Over Florida Gulf Coast
11/13/2023 10:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – Pitt improved to 3-0 on the season and extended its home win streak to nine games with an 86-74 win over Florida Gulf Coast Monday evening at the Petersen Events Center. The guard trio of Carlton Carrington, Ishmael Leggett, and Jaland Lowe combined for 48 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists as Pitt jumped out to an early lead and consistently held off a feisty FGCU squad.
Carrington's late shot clock dagger three from the Pitt logo near center court capped off a 10-3 run over the final 3:47 of play after FGCU trimmed a 15-point deficit down to five late in the contest. The reigning ACC Rookie of the Week closed the night with another outstanding effort finishing with a game-high 19 points to go along with four rebounds and seven assists (1 turnover).
Leggett made several plays late in the game and finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Lowe added 12 points and two assists in 15 minutes of action, while Blake Hinson knocked down three three-pointers as part of an 18-point night.
Pitt grabbed control of the game late in the first half with the guard trio of Leggett, Lowe, and Carrington sparking a 15-5 run over the final 5:04 of the half. Lowe scored five of his 10 first half points during the run, while Leggett added four points and Carrington converted three free throws to send Pitt into the break with a 45-35 lead.
The Panthers played an uneven opening 20 minutes, executing well on offense at times, but taking some difficult shots at others, driving its shooting percentage down to 48.3 percent (14-of-29). Pitt did a nice job attacking the FGCU defense, getting to the foul line 23 times in the opening 20 minutes but shot just 60.9 percent (14-of-23) from the line to keep the Eagles in the contest.
Following a stop on the defensive end to open the half, Leggett got loose in transition for a three-point play to reenergize the crowd. FGCU fought back to a seven-point deficit before Pitt's freshman guards pushed the lead back to double figures. Lowe scored on a nice reverse in the lane and Carrington backed in a three from the top of the key while being knocked down on the shot to give Pitt a 64-52 advantage with 11:33 remaining.
After Pitt went up by 15 with 7:44 remaining, FGCU clawed back with a 7-0 run to get within 73-65. Hinson hit a three from in front of the Pitt bench, but the Eagles again fought back. Isaiah Thompson hit a pair of big threes and Andre Weir added a putback three-point play during a 13-3 run to get within five points with 4:04 remaining.
Carrington hit a pair of free throws to start the game clinching run and Leggett and William Jeffress delivered outstanding defensive efforts in the closing minutes of play. Leggett scored on a spinning jumper on the right block and then found Federiko for a lob dunk on the next possession following an Eagle turnover.
Jeffress blocked a dunk attempt by Keeshawn Kellman with 56 seconds remaining and Federiko dug out his sixth offensive rebound of the game leading to Carrington's long-range bomb to close out the scoring and give the Panthers a third consecutive double-digit win.
BIG ON THE BOARDS AGAIN
Pitt continued its strong effort on the glass with a 42-29 rebounding advantage. Five Panthers grabbed five or more rebounds with Leggett and Federiko each grabbing seven boards.
JEFFRESS IMPACTS WINNING
A modest stat line of two points, five rebounds, two steals, and a blocked shot doesn't tell the full story of Jeffress' impact on the Panthers win. The 6-7 forward made winning plays throughout the second half with his energy and defensive effort. He helped hold FGCU leading scorer Zach Anderson to 10 points as the Panthers posted a +14 scoring margin during his 21 minutes of action.
LOWE FINISHES ON A HIGH
Jaland Lowe posted a season-high 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field, including 2-of-4 from three-point range. The freshman guard fed Guillermo Diaz Graham for a dunk in the lane and scored 10 of his 12 points in the opening half of play.
TRANSITION GAME
Pitt posted a 14-0 advantage in transition points to keep constant pressure on the FGCU defense. Leggett picked up three of his five assists in transition and Carrington hit Hinson for a transition three in the opening half as FGCU was trying to climb back into the game.
FREE THROW WOES
Pitt scored 86 points on the night despite failing to take advantage of a season-best 32 free throw attempts. The Panthers went just 18-of-32 (.563) from the charity stripe.
UP NEXT
Pitt hosts Jacksonville Friday, Nov. 17 at the Petersen Events Center in the second of three consecutive games against teams from the state of Florida. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
