Pitt
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Carrington Posts Triple-Double as Pitt Rolls to 100-52 Win in Opener
11/6/2023 10:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – Freshman Carlton Carrington became the first player in program history and just the second freshman in ACC history to record a triple-double in their debut as Pitt cruised to a 100-52 season opening win over NC A&T Monday night at the Petersen Events Center. Carrington finished with a game-high 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists to lead five double-figure scorers for the Panthers.
Federiko Federiko added 13 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks, while Jorge Diaz Graham went 5-of-5 from the field, including 3-of-3 from three-point range, to finish with 14 points and five rebounds. Blake Hinson posted 13 points and eight rebounds and Ishmael Leggett scored 11 points in his first game as a Panther.
Pitt used a stifling defense and an efficient offensive attack to top the 100-point mark for the first time since the 2016-17 season. The Panthers went 40-of-71 (.563) from the field, while holding NC A&T to just 27.1 percent (19-of-70) from the field.
Pitt jumped out to a 9-0 lead as Hinson hit a three on the opening possession and scored seven of the first nine points of the game. The Panthers extended the lead to 18-6 as Guillermo Diaz Graham made an immediate impact off the bench with a pair of blocks and a steal.
The Pitt grew to 33-11 with 4:52 remaining in the half with a 15-2 run that was capped off by a dunk by Federiko off a lob from Jaland Lowe.
Jorge Diaz Graham went on a personal 9-0 run with a pair of threes and an and-one dunk off a lob from Zack Austin to give Pitt a 44-15 with 97 seconds left in the half. The Panthers scored the next six points as well with Austin finishing a lob from Hinson in the closing seconds of the half to give the Panthers a 35-point edge at the break.
Carrington finished the half with seven points, seven rebounds, and five assists to fuel the triple-double watch.
Pitt scored the first five points of the second half for a 19-0 run. Carrington grabbed a double-double early in the half with rebounds on consecutive possession and sat at nine assists with five minutes left in the contest. After a short stint on the bench, he returned to action and found Guillermo Diaz Graham at the top of the key for a pick and pop three-pointer that bounced off the front rim before taking a couple more soft bounces and settling into the net.
All 11 Panthers who saw action in the contest scored with KJ Marshall hitting a late three and William Jeffress splitting a pair of free throws with 22 seconds remaining to hit the century mark. Jeffress finished with seven points, four rebounds, and three assists in first game back after missing last season with a foot injury.
TRIPLE DUB BUB
Carrington recorded the 10th triple-double by a freshman in ACC history (40th overall) … he posted the fifth triple-double in program history and the first by a Pitt player since Ricardo Greer (3/4/98) …. His 18 points are tied for third-most in a Pitt freshman debut, while his 12 rebounds are tied for third-most, and his 10 assists are tied for the most.
PITTSBURGH D
Pitt delivered a dominating defensive effort in the opening half holding the visiting NC A&T Aggies to 5-of-35 (.143) shooting from the field … the Panthers recorded six blocked shots in the half and consistently forced the opposition into difficult contested jumpers.
BOARD WORK
Won the rebounding battle with a 58-28 advantage, tying for the eighth largest rebound margin in a game.
WHOLE TEAM EFFORT
The Panthers had 21 assists on 40-of-71 (.563) shooting from the field and 12-of-29 (.414) from three-point range. Pitt improved to 17-9 under Jeff Capel when make 10 or more three-pointers in a game.
UP NEXT
Pitt returns to action Friday, Nov. 10 against Binghamton. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (ACC Network Extra) from the Petersen Events Center.
TICKET OPTIONS
Fans can secure their 2023-24 Pitt Basketball season tickets, mini plans, single game tickets or I.C. Light Baseline Club membership HERE or call the Panthers Ticket Office at (800) 643-7488 or email tickets@athletics.pitt.edu. Season tickets provide fans with the greatest value and access to all games, while mini-plans offer another option to secure tickets to the best games this season.
