Pitt
13-6,4-4ACC
Syracuse
9-11,3-6ACC
Five Panthers Score in Double-Figures as Pitt Posts Road Win at Syracuse
1/25/2025 3:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Lowe Scores 17 of Game-High 22 Points in Second Half
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Sophomore guard Jaland Lowe scored 17 of his game-high 22 points in the second half and Zack Austin came up big late in the contest as Pitt posted a 77-73 win at Syracuse Saturday afternoon. Austin scored all 10 of his points in the final seven minutes of action, included a pair of free throws with 7.2 seconds remaining to seal the victory as Pitt improved to 13-6 overall and 4-4 in the ACC.
Austin hit his first three with 6:59 remaining to give the Panthers a nine-point lead and added another with 2:32 left for a 70-64 Pitt lead. The Winston-Salem, N.C., native added a dunk off a press break with 30 seconds to play and seal the win with a pair of free throws in the closing seconds.
Pitt also got double-figure scoring efforts from Ishmael Leggett (16), Cameron Corhen (12), and Damian Dunn (10). Dunn had seven points, on 3-of-3 shooting from the field, three rebounds, an assist, and a steal in the second half to spark the Panthers.
Syracuse made six of its first seven shots from the field, including three three-pointers, to jump out to a 15-7 lead in the opening four minutes of action. Lowe snapped the 8-0 Syracuse run with three-point play at the 15:21 mark.
Pitt used a 7-0 run fueled by 5-of-6 shooting from the foul line and a Leggett layup to grab an 18-17 lead with 11 minutes left in the half.
Syracuse regained the lead 28-23 with 7:39 remaining on a Chris Bell wing three and a layup from Jaquan Carlos before the Pitt defense tightened. The Panthers held the Orange to 2-of-13 shooting from the field over the remainder of the half.
Jorge Diaz Graham dug out a pair of offensive rebounds for putbacks to help provide some offense as Pitt entered the break trailing 33-32. The Panthers went just 10-of-30 from the field, including a 2-of-9 effort from three-point range in the first half.
Guillermo Diaz Graham hit a three from the top of the key to cap a 7-0 run and give the Panthers a 41-38 lead early in the second half. After Syracuse tied it up at 45-45, Lowe hit a floater in the lane, came up with a blocked shot on the defensive end, and added another finish through contact to spot the Panthers to a 49-45 lead with 11:49 remaining.
Dunn added an elbow jumper and Lowe scored again in the lane to cap and 8-0 run to extend the lead to 53-45. The Panthers led by nine with under seven minutes remaining following Austin's first three of the game and Pitt answered every charge by the Orange down the stretch.
Syracuse used a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to 67-64 with 2:48 remaining, but Austin drilled a three off a feed from Lowe 16 seconds later to extend the advantage.
Pitt went dry from the foul line going (1-of-5) as Syracuse climbed back to 71-68 on a pair of free throws from J.J. Starling with 31.6 seconds left.
Dunn found Lowe over the top of the Syracuse press and Lowe's hit ahead pass to Austin resulted in a dunk with 30 seconds to play. Syracuse hit a three on their next possession to stay within striking distance before Lowe and Austin finished off with a 4-of-4 effort from the line in the final 16 seconds of action.
Starling led the Orange with 16 points, while Eddie Lampkin delivered 10 points and 23 rebounds. Syracuse posted a 48-31 advantage on the glass and made 11 threes but it wasn't enough as they slipped to 9-11 on the season and 3-6 in the ACC.
EFFICIENT OFFENSE
Pitt committed just three turnovers in the game, including none in the second half. The Panthers were 18-of-31 (.581) from the field, including 4-of-9 (.440) from three-point range in the second half of play.
LOWE DELIVERS AGAIN
Lowe recorded his eighth 20+ point game of the season and his fourth in ACC play. He scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half, including 13 points in the final 12 minutes of action.
BATTLING IN THE PAINT
Pitt held its own on the interior despite being outrebounded by 17 boards and allowing 20 offensive rebounds. The Panthers outscored Syracuse, 38-30, on points in the paint and matched the second chance point output with 16.
Dunn and Corhen came up with big offensive rebounds late in the second half to help the Panthers extend their lead.
UP NEXT
Pitt returns home to host North Carolina Tuesday, Jan. 28 at the Petersen Events Center (9 p.m. – ESPN).
