Pitt
12-8,3-6ACC
Miami
14-6,5-4ACC
Panthers Rally Late But Fall Just Short at Miami
1/27/2024 5:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Pitt made an outstanding late-game effort and had the ball with a shot to win or tie in the final 10 seconds but came up just short in a 72-68 loss to Miami at the Watsco Center. Jaland Loweled the charge with 15 of his 17 points in the second half and appeared to create contact on a game-winning three-point attempt as a Miami defender swiped down and across his body on an attempt from just in front of the Pitt bench.
Blake Hinson knocked down four threes and finished with a game-high 21 points to go along with nine rebounds, while Ishmael Leggett came off the bench for another strong effort with 14 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
Lowe scored 15 points in the final 11 minutes of play as Pitt's defense tightened and the Panthers nearly overcame a 19-point second half deficit.
After a back-and-forth opening minutes, Pitt's offense slowed, while Miami got hot from three to push out to a lead. The Panthers' had a slow shooting start, going 5-of-16 from the field in the opening 8:38, including 1-of-8 from three, which resulted in an 18-13 Miami lead.
Wooga Poplar hit a pair of threes to cap an 11-1 Miami run and force a Pitt timeout at the 8:48 mark trailing, 25-14. Pitt went over six minutes midway through the opening half without a field goal before Hinson got going from the field. The Deltona, Fla. native hit a pair of threes and scored 11 points in the final nine minutes of the half.
Pitt shot just 32 percent in the opening half, including a 4-of-17 (.235) mark from three-point range. Miami hit seven threes and shot 48 percent to enter the break with a 40-29 edge.
The Panthers cut the deficit to 12 at the under eight timeout with some strong play from Lowe. The freshman guard scored on a pair of driving layups before finding Leggett open in the corner for a three to ignite the Panthers.
Lowe continued his strong second half play, splitting a pair of free throws and grabbing his own offensive board, leading to a Hinson three to get the Panthers within single digits with 4:11 left in the contest.
Following a stop with just under three minutes remaining, Lowe hit a corner three to get the Panthers within six at 66-60 at the 2:35 mark. Following a pair of Miami free throws, Lowe found Leggett for his third three-pointer of the night and Lowe made a pair of free throws after another strong defensive stop to get the Panthers within one possession.
Poplar gave Miami some cushion with a tough pullup from the top of the key but Pitt again had the answer from long range as Leggett found Lowe for a long ball to move Pitt within 70-68 with 56 seconds remaining.
The Panthers forced a stepback three from the left wing on Miami's next possession with Hinson grabbing the board underneath the basket to set up the late game opportunity. Following a Pitt timeout, Lowe came off a high ball screen at the top of the key and appeared to have an opening before the Miami defender swiped down across his body to send a game-winning attempt awry.
Miami made a pair of free throws with 1.8 seconds remaining to secure the win.
Pitt knocked down 11 threes in the game, including seven in the second half. Miami settled in after a hot start from beyond the arc to go 10-of-31 (.320) from long-range including just 3-of-13 (.291) in the second half.
Norchad Omier led Miami with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Poplar and Nijel Pack each scored 17.
GUARDING THE BOARDS
Pitt was outrebounded 41-37 in the contest, despite the guard trio of Carlton Carrington (8), Lowe (7), and Leggett (4) combining for 19 rebounds. All three guards also had four assists in the game as Pitt finished with 15 assists and just four turnovers.
JLOWE SECOND HALF SUCCESS
Lowe is averaging 11.7 points in the second half over the last three games. He has scored in double-figures during the second half in the past two contests.
HINSON TOPPING 20
Hinson topped the 20-point mark for the ninth time this season and is now averaging 18.1 points per game. He also made four three-pointers to extend his ACC-leading season total to 68.
UP NEXT
Pitt returns to the Petersen Events Center to host Wake Forest Wednesday, Jan. 31 (7 p.m. – ACC Network).
