
Panthers Defeat Providence 81-74 in Exhibition Play
10/19/2025 5:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – The Pitt men's basketball team overcame a 12-point first-half deficit to defeat Providence, 81-74, in exhibition play Sunday afternoon at the Petersen Events Center. The Panthers had five players score in double figures, led by Damarco Minor's team-high 15 points, as Pitt extended its exhibition win streak to 42 games.
Minor paced the Panthers with 15 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field and 6-of-7 from the foul line while adding three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Brandin Cummings added 12 points and two assists while Cameron Corhen scored 10 points with five rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
Newcomer Nojus Indrusaitis added 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds, and freshman Omari Witherspoon added 10 points on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting from the field.
The rivalry's history was evident from the beginning, but it was the Friars who had the hot hand early, making four threes in the opening 16 minutes to take a 10-point lead. The Panthers struggled from the field before Witherspoon ended the scoring drought with a jumper. The Panthers worked their way out of a deficit, and freshman Macari Moore came off the bench and hit a corner three to make it a one-point game with seven minutes remaining in the first half. Indrusaitis and Minor each hit a three and Pitt took a 31-27 lead with under five minutes to play in the first half.
The Panthers finished the stanza by making five of their last seven field goals and held Providence to 0-of-5 from the field to end the half.
Witherspoon sparked the second half for the Panthers by going on a personal 6-0 run to give Pitt a 48-34 edge at the 17:28 mark. The Friars slowly chipped away at the Panthers' lead and made it a five-point game with 10 minutes left to play. Providence went on a 6-0 run to make the score 62-60 with under six minutes left in the game. Indursaitis grabbed a steal and made a pair of free throws to spark an 8-0 run for the Panthers with under four minutes remaining. An alley-oop from Indrusaitis to Barry Dunning Jr., followed by a driving lay-up from Indrusaitis, capped off the run to move the Panther lead back to 13 with 1:45 left in the game.
Jason Edwards led the Friars with a game-high 19 points, while Duncan Powell added 17 points and 10 rebounds.
ALL-TIME IN EXHIBITION PLAY
Pitt is now 67-5 all-time in exhibition games, with a 36-0 mark at the Petersen Events Center.
UP NEXT
Pitt will play Pitt-Johnstown in an exhibition game Monday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. The Panthers will open the regular season against Youngstown State at the Petersen Events Center, Nov. 3 (7 p.m. – ACCNX).
TICKETS
Fans can purchase single-game tickets for both exhibition and non-conference games HERE or by contacting the Panther Ticket Office at (800) 643-7488 or tickets@athletics.pitt.edu. The Panther Ticket Office offers a variety of options for fans to support the Panthers all season long. Ticket packages include six-game mini plans, the Panther Pack (a new mobile season ticket option), and full season tickets.