Pitt
8-2,1-0ACC
Virginia Tech
3-6,0-1ACC
Lowe Leads No. 18 Pittsburgh to 64-59 win over Virginia Tech
12/7/2024 4:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BLACKSBURG, Va. – Jaland Lowe scored 13 of his game-high 19 points in the final 8:02 of action to lead Pitt to a come-from-behind 64-59 win at Virginia Tech Saturday afternoon. The Panthers scored the final six points of the game and outscored the Hokies 15-3 over the final 3:57 of play to improve to 8-2 overall and 1-0 in the ACC.
Lowe scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half and added five rebounds, two assists, and a career-best four steals. Ishmael Leggett contributed 17 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while Guillermo Diaz Graham and Zack Austincombined for 18 points and 12 boards.
Pitt struggled shooting the ball but was able to overcome an eight-point halftime margin with a stifling second half effort on the defensive end. The Panthers limited Virginia Tech just 23 points and 33.3 percent (8-of-24) shooting in the second half.
Virginia Tech made five of six shots over a 2:41 span to pull ahead 13-7 at the first media timeout before Pitt settled in and began to gain control of the contest. Austin hit a three at the 13:42 mark to cut the deficit in half and Leggett added a jumper to move the Panthers within one at the under 12 media timeout.
Pitt extended the run on a dunk by Guillermo Diaz Graham off a baseline feed from Leggett. Leggett dove on a loose ball on the next defensive possession and the Panthers pushed the ball ahead for a driving finish by Brandin Cummings and a 16-13 lead after the 9-0 run.
Leggett continued his strong opening half with his third three-point field goal to give the Panthers a 26-23 lead with 5:31 left before the break. Virginia Tech countered with 9-0 run on two threes from Jaden Schutt around another from beyond the arc from Jaydon Young to regain the lead.
Virginia Tech closed the half on a 13-2 run as the Panthers were held scoreless over the final 2:37 to enter the break trailing 36-28. Pitt committed nine turnovers in the opening half and went just 4-of-16 (.250) from three-point range to enter halftime trailing for the third consecutive game.
Pitt came out of halftime with a renewed focus on the defensive end of the floor. The Panthers cut the deficit to two points on an Austin mid-range jumper with 16:07 remaining. The next seven minutes were played within a two-possession margin before back-to-back steals and finishes by Austin and Lowe trimmed the margin to 50-49 with 5:19 remaining.
Pitt went cold from the field and Virginia Tech pulled ahead 56-49 following a three-point play by Tyler Johnson and a three by Schutt with 5:19 remaining. Schutt's fourth three of the day would prove to be the Hokies last basket as they went 0-of-7 from the field down the stretch.
Leggett started the run with a pair of free throws coming out of the under four media timeout and Lowe added a three from the top of the key on the next possession for a 56-54 deficit. Tobi Lawal converted a pair of free throws for Tech before Lowe quickly countered.
The sophomore point guard scored on a driving layup through contact and forced a turnover on the ensuing possession by the Hokies. Pitt was unable to cut into the two-point deficit but came up with another defensive stop with Guillermo Diaz Graham being fouled on the rebound.
Diaz Graham connected on both free throws to tie the game at 58. Lawal split a pair of free throws with 1:09 remaining before Lowe gave the Panthers there first lead since the 5:31 mark of the first half on another driving finish through traffic.
The Panthers defense came up big again as Guillermo Diaz Graham walled up before blocking a Ben Burnham attempt with Lowe digging out the rebound and drilling a pair of free throws for a three-point lead with 25 seconds to play.
Virginia Tech had an deep three-point attempt to tie the game but Austin had a terrific contest and the three banged harmlessly off the rim with Lowe corralling the board and being fouled. Lowe again knocked in both free throws to seal the win for the Panthers.
Lawal led the Hokies with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field, while Schutt finished with four three-point field goals and 14 points.
KEEPING IT 100%
Pitt finished the day a perfect 12-of-12 from the foul line, including 6-of-6 in the final 90 seconds of play. Lowe sealed the victory by going 4-of-4 from the charity stripe in the final 30 seconds of the game.
BACK ON THE BOARDS
Pitt battled back after trailing on the boards for a large portion of the day to post a 31-30 rebounding advantage. All five starters grabbed five or more rebounds with Guillermo Diaz Graham posting a game-high seven rebounds. Pitt is now 7-0 on the season when winning or tying the rebounding battle.
BIG MOMENTS FROM G
Guillermo Diaz Graham overcame a sub-par shooting effort (1-of-7 from three) to make several key plays in the second half for the Panthers. His lone three-pointer came midway through the second half to cut into a four-point deficit. He delivered a key defensive block out with 1:34 remaining and drew a foul before calming sinking both free throws to tie the game at 58. The junior forward added a blocked shot with 30 seconds remaining and the Panthers leading by one.
UP NEXT
Pitt returns home to play Eastern Kentucky Wednesday, Dec. 11, capping off a string of 22 days between games at the Petersen Events Center.
