Panthers Host North Carolina Tuesday Night in Blackout Game

Pitt (13-6, 4-4 ACC) vs. North Carolina (13-8, 6-3 ACC)

Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 • 9:00 PM

Pittsburgh, Pa. • Petersen Events Center

ESPN • 93.7 The Fan

THE OPENING TIP

Pitt (13-6, 4-4 ACC) returns home to host North Carolina (13-8, 6-3 ACC) Tuesday, Jan. 28. Tipoff from the Petersen Events Center is set for 9 p.m. with Kevin Brown and Jay Williams calling the action on ESPN.
Tuesday's contest is the first of two games in a 12-day span between the Panthers and Tar Heels. Pitt travels to Chapel Hill, N.C. to play North Carolina on Saturday, Feb. 8.
Pitt leads the ACC in free throw percentage (.786), while ranking third in effective field goal percentage (.545), and field goal percentage (.472). The Panthers also rank fourth in the conference in scoring (80.2 ppg.) and three-point field goals per game (8.6 3pg.).
The Panthers' starting backcourt of Ishmael Leggett and Jaland Lowe combines to average 34.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 3.5 steals per game. The duo has combined for 32 double-figure scoring games, including 13 games with 20 or more points scored.
Jaland Lowe is averaging 20.8 points per game over the past four contests. He has topped the 20-point mark three times in that span and eight times overall on the season.
Ishmael Leggett is averaging 18.3 points per game, while shooting 61.1 percent (69-of-113) from the field and 48.7 percent (19-of-39) from three-point range, in 10 games at the Petersen Events Center this season.

BY THE NUMBERS

Pitt is one of two programs (joined by Rutgers) in the NCAA with two guards averaging 16.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game or better. Jaland Lowe (17.6 ppg., 4.3 rpg.) and Ishmael Leggett (16.6 ppg., 5.6 rpg.) have anchored the Panther attack this season.
Jaland Lowe (17.6 ppg.) and Ishmael Leggett (16.6 ppg.) rank seventh and ninth, respectively, in the ACC in scoring. Pitt is the only program with two players ranked in the top 10 in scoring.
Jaland Lowe (17.6 ppg., 4.3 rpg., 5.7 apg.) is one of five players in the NCAA averaging at least 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.
Zack Austin is averaging 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game since being inserted into the starting lineup prior to the Virginia Tech game (12/6). He is 36-of-75 (.480) from the field, including 20-of-50 (.400) from three-point range, in the past 10 contests.
Cameron Corhen has scored in double figures 13 times and is averaging 10.7 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds per game. He also leads the Panthers in dunks (31) and offensive rebounds (42), while shooting 61.9 percent (86-of-139) from the field.
Ishmael Leggett is one of seven players in the NCAA averaging at least 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
Zack Austin leads the Panthers in three-point field goals (34) and blocked shots (30). He is one of six players in the NCAA with at least 30 three-pointers and 30 blocks this season. Mouhamdou Gueye (2021-22) is the only other Panther to lead the team in blocks and three-pointers in a season.
Guillermo Diaz Graham is 10-of-21 (.476) from three-point range over the past eight contests. He has made two or more threes three times in that span.
Zack Austin has made at least one three-point field goal in a career-best 14 consecutive games. He has made at least two threes in 10 of the past 14 contests and has 29 three-pointers in that span.
Damian Dunn is averaging 8.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game but is shooting just 36.8 percent (14-of-38) from the field since returning from a thumb injury on his shooting hand that sidelined him for seven games.
The Panthers are currently averaging 8.7 three-pointers per game, while shooting 35.9 percent (164-of-457) from beyond the arc for the season. Pitt averaged 9.0 or more threes per game and shot better than 35 percent from long range in each of the previous two seasons.
Pitt is averaging 88.1 points per game, while shooting 51.9 percent (337-of-649) from the field and 40.3 percent (110-of-273) from three-point range in 11 home games this season.
Pitt is 10-0 on the season and 48-2 under Jeff Capel when scoring 80 or more points in a game. The Panthers have scored 80 or more points in nine of their 11 home games this season.
The Panthers have allowed 10 or more made three-pointers in four of the past five games. ACC opponents averaging 9.8 threes per game with Pitt being outscored by 48 points from three-point distance through eight league contests.
Pitt leads the ACC and ranks 13th in the NCAA in free throw percentage (.786). The Panthers are 82-of-98 (.837) from the stripe over the past six games.
Pitt is 12-0 on the season when winning or tying the rebounding battle. The Panthers have been outrebounded by a combined 58 boards in their six losses this season. Pitt's win over Syracuse Saturday was its first when losing the rebounding battle this season.

PANTHER SPOTLIGHTS

Damian Dunn has scored in double figures in six of his seven games played at the Petersen Events Center. He is averaging 14.0 points per game, while shooting 50 percent (32-of-64) from the field (14-of-28 3FG) at home this season.
Jaland Lowe has topped the 20-point mark four times and is averaging 19.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game in ACC play. He is 50-of-54 (.926) from the foul line in eight conference games.

BLACKOUT THE PETE

Tuesday night's contest will the annual Blackout game with the Panthers wearing their Pittsburgh-themed black uniforms. Students will receive the 2025 Oakland Zoo blackout shirts, while 4,000 Leave No Doubt black rally towels will also be distributed.

COACHES VS. CANCER SUITS & SNEAKERS WEEK (Jan. 27 – Feb. 2)

Coaches vs. Cancer Suits & Sneakers week is a joint effort by the NABC and American Cancer Society to raise awareness and funding towards the fight against cancer. Since 1993, this initiative has leveraged the personal experiences, community leadership, and professional excellence of coaches nationwide to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs.
Donate in support of Coaches vs. Cancer and to join the fight to end cancer as we know it HERE.
Pitt coaches and staff will wear sneakers and Coaches vs. Cancer pins during Tuesday's game to help raise awareness.