Panthers Tied Atop ACC Standings Following 91-57 Win Over Louisville

Tuesday, February 7

Pittsburgh, PA

7 PM

Pitt

17-7,10-3ACC

Louisville

3-21,1-12ACC

Louisville

Pittsburgh

Panthers Tied Atop ACC Standings Following 91-57 Win Over Louisville

2/7/2023 10:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Notes Quotes Highlights Pitt Louisville Photo Gallery

PITTSBURGH – Pitt used a balanced scoring attack, terrific perimeter shooting, and a solid defensive effort en route to a 91-57 win over Louisville Tuesday evening at the Petersen Events Center. The Panthers improved to 17-7 on the season, including a 10-3 ACC mark to move into a first place tie with Clemson in the conference standings.

Greg Elliott and Nelly Cummings combined for 25 points and 12 assists, while going 7-of-8 from three-point range to lead the Panthers. Super sixth man Nike Sibande added a game-high 15 points, five rebounds and five threes in just 19 minutes, while Guillermo Diaz Graham had 11 points, five rebounds and five blocks off the bench. Blake Hinson also scored in double figures knocking in three three-pointers in an 11-point effort.

Pitt jumped out to a 24-16 lead midway through the half on the strength of outstanding perimeter shooting. Elliott knocked down his first three three-point attempts and Hinson buried a deep three in transition to spot the Panthers to an eight-point lead.

Nate Santos converted a four-point play at the 9:40 mark and Sibande scored on a one dribble pull up to cap an 11-0 run and 16-2 spurt for a 30-16 advantage. Sibande knocked in Pitt's sixth three of the half and Pitt went into the under eight timeout with a 33-17 margin.

Pitt pushed the lead to 38-17 on a Cummings corner three and fastbreak bucket by Burton following a two-block defensive stand by Federiko Federiko. The Panthers held Louisville to under 30 percent shooting en route to a season-best 20-point halftime lead (47-27).

The three-point display continued early in the second half as Elliott, Hinson, and Cummings each ripped the nets from beyond the arc as the Panthers used a 13-1 run to grab a 60-28 lead and force a Louisville timeout with 17:20 remaining.

As the Panthers cooled slightly from the field, the defensive effort remained strong as twins Guillermo Diaz Graham and Jorge Diaz Graham made the most of their extended game action. The tandem combined for seven blocked shots in the second half as Pitt held the Cardinals below 30 percent shooting from the field for the game.

Pitt extended its lead to 38 points on a Guillermo Diaz Graham three off a drive and feed from Jorge Diaz Graham at the 2:17 mark. The Panthers went on to finish off a 91-57 win matching its largest scoring output of the season and its largest victory margin in the all-time series with Louisville.

The Cardinals shot just 27.6 percent (16-of-58) from the field, including just 6-of-31 (.194) on its two-point attempts. Mike James scored 11 points to lead Louisville, while Hercy Miller added 10 points off the bench.

FIRING IN THE FIRST HALF
Pitt shot a blistering 61.5 percent (16-of-26) from the field, including 9-of-15 (.600) from three-point range, in the opening half of play. All eight players to hit the floor in the opening half scored for the Panthers with five different players knocking down a three.

THANK 'EM FOR THE PASS
The Panthers finished with a season-high 23 assists on 28 field goals, while shooting 54.9 percent from the field. Pitt was particularly effective sharing the ball in the opening half with 14 assists on 16 field goals.

THREE-POINT PROWESS
Pitt continued to excel from beyond the arc making 17-of-31 (.548) attempts from beyond the arc. The 17 threes are the second most this season and the second most in program history. Elliott (4), Sibande (4), Cummings (3), and Hinson (3) each made three or more three-pointers to match a school record for most players with three or more threes in a game.

BIG CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE BENCH BRIGADE
Sibande scored in double figures for the 11^th time this season to lead Pitt to a season-best 41 points off the bench. The Panthers reserve outscored Louisville 15-0 in the opening half of action.

BLOCK PARTY AT THE PETE
The Panthers matched a school record with 13 blocked shots with Guillermo Diaz Grehaam (5), Jorge Diaz Graham (4), and Federiko Federiko (3) combining for 12 blocks.

TWINNING
The Diaz Graham twins combined for 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and nine blocks in the win. Guillermo had season highs in points (11) and blocks (5), while Jorge went 6-of-6 from the foul line and with four blocks.

WINNING WAYS
Pitt has now won four consecutive games, seven of its past eight, and 16 of the past 20 contests. The Panthers secured their first winning season since the 2015-16 campaign and its first 10+ win conference seasons since the 2013-14 campaign.

UP NEXT
Pitt travels to Florida State Saturday, Feb. 11 to take on the Seminoles in a noon tipoff on ESPNU from the Donald L. Tucker Center.