Pitt
13-8,4-6ACC
Wake Forest
13-7,5-4ACC
Panthers Storm Past Wake Forest For 77-72 Win
1/31/2024 10:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – Pitt charged back from a 10-point halftime deficit to secure a 77-72 win over Wake Forest Wednesday night at the Petersen Events Center. Guards Carlton Carrington (24) and Ishmael Leggett(22) both scored season highs, while William Jeffress came off the bench to ignite the team in the final 10 minutes of action with scrappy defense and a vicious two-hand slam that sent the Demon Deacons reeling.
Carrington scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half and Leggett had 14 of his 22 after the break as Pitt outscored the Demon Deacons 50-35 in the second half. Jeffress entered the game with 9:46 remaining and made an immediate impact with his post defense on Efton Reid. His baseline dunk with 2:54 remaining gave the Panthers a seven-point cushion and he forced a turnover on the ensuing possession that led to a Leggett driving finish and a 68-59 advantage with just over two minutes left.
Both offenses came out hot in the first half as Wake Forest hit three three-pointers to jump out to a 15-12 lead at the first media timeout despite the Panthers making five of their first seven attempts from the field. Pitt missed its next seven shots from the field as the visitors pulled ahead 22-12 before a Leggett three quelled the run with a three-pointer at the 8:17 mark.
The Panthers clawed back to within 30-27 at the under four media timeout with another 5-of-7 shooting effort from the field. Leggett hit another three and added a jumper from the elbow to spark the offense. Wake scored the final seven points of the half as Pitt missed its final five shots of the half to enter the break trailing, 37-27.
Wake Forest controlled the interior in the opening 20 minutes scoring 20 points in the paint and grabbing an 18-10 rebounding advantage. Hunter Sallis had a strong half with 14 points for the Demon Deacons, while Leggett (8) and Carrington (7) paced a Pitt attack that went through a five minute scoring drought early in the half and a nearly four-minute cold spell heading into the break.
The Panthers used a 7-0 run early in the second half to pull within 41-37 and force a Wake Forest timeout. Federiko Federiko ignited the run with a three-point play and grabbed a pair of offensive rebounds to help shift momentum in the game.
Blake Hinson buried his 70th three of the season late in the shot clock to get the Panthers within two points with just over 12 minutes remaining and Carrington knotted the score at 49 with a three at the 10:31 mark.
Pitt went on a 7-0 run to go up 64-57 and force a Wake timeout with 4:33 remaining. Leggett's fourth three of the night gave the Panthers the lead for good and he followed up with a driving layup before an elbow jumper by Carrington that led to the timeout. Wake Forest cut the deficit to five but Jeffress and Leggett responded for the Panthers. Following an offensive possession that included a pair of offensive rebounds, Jeffress kept the ball on a fake handoff off on an underneath out-of-bounds play and soared to the rim for a emphatic two-hand slam.
The Panthers led by as many as 10 points in the closing 80 seconds of action before Wake Forest trimmed the final margin with a couple of late game baskets by Hunter Sallis.
Pitt topped the 50-point mark in the second half for the fourth time this season. The Panthers were 16-of-30 (.533) from the field, including 4-of-9 (.444) from three-point range, and 14-of-17 (.824) from the foul line after the break.
Hinson added 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field, while Federiko finished with six points, seven rebounds, two steals, and three blocks. Sallis led the Demon Deacons with 22 points and Reid collected a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
GREAT-ISH OFF THE BENCH
Leggett came off the bench to score a season-high 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including a season-best 4-of-6 from three-point range. He has scored in double figures in each of the past four games and is quickly becoming one of the top sixth man in the ACC.
FLIPPING THE SCRIPT FROM THREE
Wake Forest made its first three three-point attempts of the game and appeared to be en route to another strong shooting night from beyond the arc before Pitt's defense responded. The Panthers limited the opposition to just three threes over the final 35 minutes of action and held the Demon Deacons to a 6-of-22 (.273) showing from beyond the arc. Wake Forest entered the night ranking second in the ACC in three-point percentage (.382).
BLAKE BECOMES NO. 4
Hinson went 2-of-4 from three-point range and has now made 70 three-pointers on the season. He is just the fourth player in program history to make 70 or more threes in consecutive season.
FINDING A WAY
Pitt secured its first win of the season when losing the rebounding battle. Wake Forest had a 35-29 edge on the glass overall, put Pitt grabbed nine offensive rebounds in the second half and outrebounded the visitors 19-17 over the final 20 minutes of action.
UP NEXT
Pitt returns to action Saturday, Feb. 3 against Notre Dame (6 p.m. – ACC Network). The Panthers will welcome back all basketball alumni at the game, while also honoring the 1973-74 and 2008-09 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight teams. Tickets are available through the Panthers Ticket Office HERE.
