Pitt
16-8,7-6ACC
Virginia
19-6,10-4ACC
Panthers Snap Virginia 23-Game Home Win Streak with 74-63 Win at John Paul Jones Arena
2/13/2024 9:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Hinson Nets 27 Points to Lead Pitt Past No. 21 Cavaliers
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Blake Hinson scored a game-high 27 points with five made three-pointers as Pitt finished strong on both ends of the floor en route to a 74-63 win over No. 21 Virginia. The Panthers made 14 threes on the night and dominated the glass over the final 10 minutes of action to snap the Cavaliers NCAA-best 23-game home win streak.
Hinson was 11-of-19 from the field, including 5-of-13 from three-point range in reaching the 20-point plateau for the 10th time this season. Jaland Lowe scored nine of his 12 points in the second half and Ishmael Leggett added 13 points, eight rebounds, and three steals off the bench.
Pitt broke open a close contest that featured 11 lead changes and nine ties by outscoring Virginia 27-14 over the final 13:23 of action.
Carlton Carrington capped a 7-0 run with a four-point play to give Pitt a 19-13 advantage at the 12:24 mark in the opening half. Guillermo Diaz Graham extended the Pitt lead to 22-15 as the Panthers opened the game with five three-pointers in the opening nine minutes of action.
Lowe hit a corner three with 5:37 remaining in the half to give Pitt a 27-25 lead and stop a 7-0 run by the Cavaliers. Hinson added a wing three on the next possession as Pitt pulled ahead 30-25 just before the under four media timeout.
Virginia used a 6-0 run to retake the lead before Diaz Graham buried a late shot clock three and Leggett added a pair of free throws after a steal and breakaway foul with 2.2 seconds left in the half to send Pitt into the break with a 35-31 lead.
Pitt did much of its damage from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes going 8-of-19 from three-point range, while Virginia scored 19 of its 31 points in the paint and at the foul line.
Hinson hit a three on Pitt's opening possession of the half but Virginia countered with a 9-0 run to grab a 40-38 advantage and force a Pitt timeout.
Pitt took the lead for good on a Hinson three at the 13:01 mark and Diaz Graham scored in the line on Pitt's next possession for a 52-49 Pitt lead. Hinson hit his fourth three of the night off an underneath out of bounds play coming out of the under 12 break for a seven-point advantage.
Hinson struck again from long range with 6:30 remaining to give the Panthers a 64-54 lead. Pitt answered every charge by the Cavaliers down the stretch with Lowe, Hinson, Carrington scoring in the lane to push the lead to 70-56 with three minutes remaining.
Leggett went 4-of-4 from the foul line to seal the win as Pitt moved to 16-8 overall and 7-6 in the ACC. The Panthers have now won six of their past seven games, including a pair of road wins over ranked opponents.
Reece Beekman led Virginia with 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while Isaac McNeely added 15 points. The Cavaliers shot 50 percent from the field and committed just five turnovers but it wasn't enough to overcome Pitt's perimeter shooting throughout and late game dominance on the glass.
BIG FINISH ON THE BOARDS
Pitt outrebounded the Cavaliers 35-25 for the game, including a 15-3 margin over the final 11 minutes of play.
STREAK SNAPPING
In addition to snapping Virginia's 23-game home win streak, Pitt broke a Virginia steak of holding 48 consecutive ACC opponents under 70 points scored at John Paul Jones Arena.
BALANCED ATTACK
Pitt also received terrific contributions from Carrington and Diaz Graham. Carrington had nine points, eight rebounds, and six assists, while Diaz Graham knocked down a pair of threes and finished with eight points and four rebounds.
UP NEXT
Pitt returns to the Petersen Events Center to host Louisville Saturday, Feb. 17 (6.30 p.m. – ACC Network). Saturday's contests will be a Roc the Royal promotion with the team wearing their blue uniforms and fans encouraged to wear their Pitt blue. Tickets are available through the Panthers Ticket Office HERE.
