Panthers Close Out Non-Conference Play Saturday Against Sam Houston

Saturday, December 21

Pittsburgh, PA

1 PM

Pitt

Sam Houston

Tickets

Panthers Close Out Non-Conference Play Saturday Against Sam Houston

12/19/2024 8:09:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes

[rv/rv] Pitt (9-2, 1-0 ACC) vs. Sam Houston (6-5, 0-0 CUSA)

Saturday, December 21, 2024 • 1:00 PM

Pittsburgh, Pa. • Petersen Events Center

ACC Network Extra • 93.7 The Fan

THE OPENING TIP

Pitt (9-2) concludes non-conference play at home Saturday, Dec. 21 against Sam Houston (6-5). Tipoff from the Petersen Events Center is set for 1 p.m. with Jason Earle and Nick Rivers calling the action on ACC Network Extra.
The Panthers have won 12 consecutive games at the Petersen Events Center for its longest home win streak since a 14-game stretch from Feb. 27, 2013 through Jan. 21, 2014.
Pitt's 9-2 start through 11 games matches its best start since the 2016-17 season. The Panthers last 10-2 start was also in 2016-17.
The Panthers rank No. 11 in the NCAA NET with three Quad 1-2 wins (West Virginia, vs. LSU, at Ohio State). Pitt is also receiving votes in both the AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Saturday's game marks Pitt's final contest of 2024. The Panthers will have a 10-day gap between games before returning to action Wednesday, Jan. 1 against Cal at the Petersen Events Center.
The Panthers are 7-0 on the season and 45-2 under Jeff Capel when scoring 80 or more points in a game. Pitt ranks third in the ACC in scoring at 81.6 points per game.
Pitt's starting backcourt of Ishmael Leggett and Jaland Lowe combines to average 33.5 points, 11.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 3.7 steals per game. The duo has combined for 19 double-figure scoring games, including seven games with 20 or more points scored. Leggett (17.0 ppg.) and Lowe (16.5 ppg.) rank sixth and 10th, respectively, in the ACC in scoring.

BY THE NUMBERS

Pitt is one of two programs (joined by VCU) in the NCAA with two guards averaging 16.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game or better. Ishmael Leggett (17.0 ppg., 6.2 rpg.) and Jaland Lowe (16.5 ppg., 5.4 rpg.) have anchored the Panther attack through the first 11 games of the season.
Jaland Lowe is filling the stat sheet this season averaging 16.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. He is one of two players in the NCAA averaging at least 16.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game on the season.
Ishmael Leggett ranks among the ACC leaders in scoring (6th - 17.0 ppg.), rebounds (T-18th - 6.2 rpg.), defensive rebounds (11th - 5.0 drpg.), field goal percentage (6th - .500), steals (7th - 1.8 spg.), and minutes (9th - 34.94 mpg.). He has scored 15 or more points nine times, including three 20+ point efforts.
Cameron Corhen scored in double figures in the first seven games of the season and is averaging 10.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 67.6 percent (48-of-71) from the field. He leads the Panthers with 18 dunks and 22 offensive rebounds.
Zack Austin is averaging 8.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.64 blocks in 26.8 minutes per game. He has started the past two games for the Panthers extending his averages to 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Ishmael Leggett is one of only six guards in the NCAA averaging at least 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game for the season. He has scored in double figures 10 times, while registering a pair of double-doubles.
Guillermo Diaz Graham is averaging 6.6 points and a team-high 6.4 rebounds in 23.9 minutes per game. He has scored in double figures in four games, while also grabbing seven or more rebounds five times.
Zack Austin is three blocked shots shy of becoming just the fourth player in NCAA history to total at least 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 170 three-pointers, and 200 blocks in a career.
Damian Dunn is sidelined until January after suffering a thumb injury in the opening minutes of the Wisconsin game. He scored in double figures in the first five games of the season and is averaging 11.1 points per game, while shooting a team-best 52.6 percent (10-of-19) from three-point range.
Ishmael Leggett is averaging 17.5 points per game, while going 41-of-62 (.661) from the field, including 8-of-18 (.444) from three-point range, in six contests at the Petersen Events Center.
The Panthers rank 27th nationally (fourth in the ACC) in KenPom adjusted offensive efficiency at 117.6 points per 100 possessions. Pitt is also 33rd (third in the ACC) in adjusted defensive efficiency at 97.4 points per 100 possessions.
Pitt is 9-0 on the season when winning or tying the rebounding battle. The Panthers were outrebounded by a combined 22 boards in their two losses this season.
The Panthers are averaging 8.4 three-pointers per game, while shooting 33.5 percent (92-of-275) from beyond the arc for the season. Pitt shot a season-high 47.8 percent (11-of-23) from three-point range in its last outing.
Pitt is averaging 89.5 points per game, while shooting 52.8 percent (190-of-360) from the field and 38.7 percent (58-of-150) from three-point range, in six games at the Petersen Events Center this season.
The Panthers are 6-0 at the Petersen Events Center this season with a +30.5 points per game scoring margin. Four of Pitt's six home wins have been by 20 or more points, including three 40+ point victories.

PANTHER SPOTLIGHTS

Brandin Cummings was named ACC Rookie of the Week after scoring 30 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the field (6-of-8 3FG) in a win over Eastern Kentucky. He is one of three freshmen to score 30 or more points in a game this season.
Zack Austin is averaging 11.8 points per game, while going 12-of-23 (.522) from three-point range, over the past five games. He leads the Panthers with 17 three-point field goals and 18 blocked shots on the season.