Pitt
10-2,1-0ACC
Sam Houston
6-6,0-0CUSA
Panthers Top the Century Mark in Win Over Sam Houston
12/21/2024 4:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Austin & Leggett Each Score 23 Points In Non-Conference Finale
PITTSBURGH – Zack Austin and Ishmael Leggett each scored 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field as Pitt rolled to a 110-78 victory over Sam Houston Saturday afternoon at the Petersen Events Center. The 110-points are the second most scored by the Panthers at the Pete.
Austin went 5-of-9 from three-point range, while scoring a career-high 23 points as a Panther, and Pitt was a season-best 16-of-31 (.516) from three-point range in improving to 10-2 on the season. Leggett knocked down 3-of-4 from beyond the arc and added five rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot.
Jaland Lowe recorded his second consecutive double-double, third overall, with 18 points and 11 assists, while Cameron Corhen (15 points, six rebounds) and Brandin Cummings (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Panthers.
Pitt got off to a fast start making its first four shots to open the game on a 10-0 run. Austin knocked down a three on the first possession of the game and Lowe scored five during the early run.
Sam Houston used a 6-0 run to claw back into the contest but Pitt quickly countered to regain control. Leggett converted a three-point play to get to double figures and Austin hit his second three of the half to extend Pitt's run to 11-0 for a 14-point lead. Lowe countered a three by Sam Houston with one of his own to send Pitt into the under eight media timeout with a 31-17 advantage.
Pitt led by as many as 17 in the half and entered the break up 12 as the Bearkats hit a couple threes in the final 90 seconds of the half. The Panthers shot 58.1 percent (18-of-31) in the opening 20 minutes of action as Leggett went 6-of-7 from the field with a pair of threes and a three-point play for 15 first half points.
Austin continued his strong play in the second half with an early three and a putback off an offensive rebound to give the Panthers a 59-43 lead and force a Sam Houston timeout. Pitt extended its lead to 20 (69-49) on an Austin three at the 15:13 mark.
Cummings knocked down Pitt's 13th three-pointer of the day at the 8:29 mark to give the Panthers an 85-61 lead and a flagrant two foul was assessed on the play as Leggett was leveled in the lane on the pass. He knocked down both free throws to complete another 10-0 run for the home team.
Pitt continued to pour it on from deep with Jorge Diaz Graham knocking down a corner three for a 100-68 lead as the Panthers topped the 100-point mark for the first time this season. Amsal Delalic added a three on the next possession and Papa Amadou Kante capped off Pitt's scoring with a three-point play. The Panthers had an opportunity to set the Petersen Events Center scoring record in the final minute of action but missed an open three before dribbling out the clock in the 32-point win.
Cameron Huefner had a strong outing for the visiting Bearkats finishing with 26 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field. Lamar Wilkerson added 15 points and three steals but was limited to 5-of-15 shooting overall, including a 2-of-9 effort from three-point range.
OPENING HALF OFFENSE
Pitt scored a season-best 52 points in the opening half shooting over 58 percent from the field, including an 8-of-17 (.471) effort from three-point range. The Panthers recorded 11 assists on 18 first half field goals.
SCORING IN THREES
In addition to making eight three-pointers in the opening half, the Panthers converted three three-point plays. Pitt finished the game with 16 threes, tied for third most in program history, and four three-point plays.
SECOND HALF SUCCESS
Pitt scored a season-high 58 points in the second half, while going 20-of-54 (.588) from the field, including 8-of-14 (.571) from three-point range.
AUSTIN IN THE PAST SIX
Austin finished with a Pitt career-high 23 points and went 5-of-9 from three-point range to continue his run of excellent play. He is now averaging 13.7 points and shooting 53.1 percent (17-of-32) from three-point range over the past six contests.
ANOTHER DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR LOWE
Lowe recorded his second consecutive 10+ points and 10+ assist double-double finishing with 18 points and 11 assists. He is the first Panthers with back-to-back 10+ assist double-doubles since Tray Woodall accomplished that feat during the 2011-12 season. Lowe has posted three of the six 10+ assist double-doubles in the ACC this season. His 23 assists over the past two games in the third-most over a two-game stretch by a Pitt player.
HOME WIN STREAK EXTENDED
Pitt has now won 13 consecutive games at the Petersen Events Center, its longest streak since a 14-game stretch from Feb. 27, 2103 through Jan. 21, 2014. The Panthers are 7-0 at home this season with five of the seven wins coming by 20 or more points.
HANGING 100
The Panthers topped the 100-point mark for the third time under head coach Jeff Capel and the first time since a 107-56 win over Jacksonville on Nov. 17, 2023. Pitt's 110-point effort is tied for the eighth-most in program history.
UP NEXT
Pitt returns to action following the holiday break with its ACC home opener Wednesday, Jan. 1 against Cal (2 p.m. – ACC Network).
