Pitt Win Streak Stopped at Virginia Tech, 79-72

Saturday, February 18

Blacksburg, VA

5 PM

Pitt

19-8,12-4ACC

Virginia Tech

16-11,6-10ACC

Pittsburgh

Virginia Tech

Pitt Win Streak Stopped at Virginia Tech, 79-72

2/18/2023 8:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Highlights Notes Photo Gallery

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Pitt saw its season-best six-game win steak halted at Virginia Tech Saturday as the Hokies shot 56 percent from the field and got to the free throw line an opponent season-high 28 times en route to 79-72 win over the Panthers. Pitt had four double-figure scorers but was plagued by foul calls throughout the game as the Panthers slip to 19-8 overall and 12-4 in ACC play.

Jamarius Burton scored a team-high 15 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field, while Federiko Federiko added 12 points and two steals.

Nelly Cummings had a strong showing with 11 points, five rebounds and eight assists. Greg Elliott added 11 points, while Guillermo Diaz Graham came off the bench to post eight points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

Pitt scored 40 points in the paint (third most on the season) and shot 47 percent from the field overall but it was not enough to overcome an off shooting night from the perimeter. The Panthers entered the game leading the ACC in three-point field goals but managed to go just 3-of-18 (.167) from beyond the arc. The three made threes were a season-low for Pitt.

Pitt jumped out to an 11-5 lead in the opening 4:23 of play as Cummings and Elliott combined to score the first eight posts of the game for the Panthers and Federiko capped off the run with a transition finish at the rim. Virginia Tech used a 13-0 run to grab an 18-11 lead as the Hokies hit a pair of threes and the Panthers went through a four-minute scoring drought.

Pitt continued to battle back throughout the remainder of the half getting to within four on a Burton jumper at the 3:!3 mark, but the Hokies continued to answer from the free throw line and three-point range. Virginia Tech went 4-of-4 from the free throw line and Grant Basile hit his third three-pointer of the half to close on a 9-2 run to enter the break up 41-30.

The Hokies made five threes and went 8-of-11 from the foul line in the opening 20 minutes, while Pitt made just 1-of-6 from beyond the arc and only got to the free throw line five times.

Pitt battled back from double-digit deficits throughout the second half but could not maintain momentum as Virginia Tech consistently answered each surge with a timely three or another trip to the free throw line.

The Holies finished the night 20-of-28 (.714), including 17 second half free throws, while also going 9-o-19 (.474) from three-point range. Basile led the way with 22 points and four three-pointers with Mylyjeal Poteat coming off the bench to score 15 points, while going 7-of-9 from the foul line.

Justyn Mutts, Hunter Cattoor, and Sean Pedulla each scored 12 points as Virginia Tech improved to 16-11 overall and 6-10 in the ACC. The Hokies, playing in front of a sellout crowd, are now 12-3 at Cassell Coliseum.

UP NEXT
Pitt wraps up its home schedule next week with contests at the Petersen Events Center against Georgia Tech (Tuesday, Feb. 21) and Syracuse (Saturday, Feb. 25). The Panthers regular season home finale against the Orange has already been announced as a sellout but tickets for Tuesday's contest against the Yellow Jackets are available HERE.