Pitt Hosts Virginia in Key ACC Matchup Monday

Pitt (14-7, 5-5 ACC) vs. Virginia (10-12, 3-8 ACC)

Monday, Feb. 3, 2025 • 7:00 PM

Pittsburgh, Pa. • Petersen Events Center

ESPN • 93.7 The Fan

THE OPENING TIP

Pitt (14-7, 5-5 ACC) hosts Virginia (10-12, 3-8 ACC) Monday, Feb. 3. Tipoff from the Petersen Events Center is set for 7 p.m. with Dave O'Brien, Cory Alexander and Myron Medcalf calling the action on ESPN.
The Panthers are 10-2 on the season at the Petersen Events Center. Pitt has scored 80 or more points in nine of its 12 home contests and is averaging 86.8 points per game, while shooting 51.3 percent (361-of-704) from the field, at the Pete this season.
Pitt leads the ACC and ranks sixth in the NCAA in free throw percentage (.797). The Panthers have shot 80 percent or better from the line in five of the past six games, including a 20-of-20 effort Saturday at Wake Forest.
The Panthers' starting backcourt of Ishmael Leggett and Jaland Lowe combines to average 33.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 3.6 steals per game. The duo has combined for 36 double-figure scoring games, including 13 games with 20 or more points scored.
Jaland Lowe is averaging 18.5 points per game, while scoring in double figures in nine of Pitt's 10 ACC contests. He has also topped the 20-point mark four times in league play.
Ishmael Leggett is averaging 18.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, while shooting 58.4 percent (73-of-125) from the field, including 45.5 percent (20-of-44) from three-point range, in his 11 games played at the Petersen Events Center this season.

BY THE NUMBERS

Jaland Lowe (17.4 ppg.) and Ishmael Leggett (16.5 ppg.) rank sixth and ninth, respectively, in the ACC in scoring. Pitt is the only program with two players ranked in the top 10 in scoring.
Pitt is the only team in the NCAA with two players 6-3 or under averaging 16.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game or better. Jaland Lowe (17.4 ppg., 4.4 rpg.) and Ishmael Leggett (16.5 ppg., 5.7 rpg.) are looking to become the first pair of Pitt teammates to average at least 16.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game in the same season since 2016-17.
Jaland Lowe (17.4 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 5.6 apg.) is one of six players in the NCAA averaging at least 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. Dennis Smith, Jr. (NC State) was the last ACC player to complete a season (2016-17) with those averages.
Zack Austin leads the Panthers in three-point field goals (38) and blocked shots (37). He is one of three players in the NCAA with at least 35 three-pointers and 35 blocks this season. Mouhamdou Gueye (2021-22) is the only other Panther to lead the team in blocks and three-pointers in a season.
Damian Dunn is averaging 10.0 points per game, while shooting 40.0 percent (24-of-60) from the field since returning from a thumb injury on his shooting hand that sidelined him for seven games. Dunn was averaging 11.1 points per game on 49 percent (25-of-51) shooting from the field prior to the injury.
Ishmael Leggett is one of eight players in the NCAA averaging at least 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. He is looking to join Ricardo Greer (1999-2000) as the only Panthers to achieve those averages in a season.
Guillermo Diaz Graham and Jorge Diaz Graham are a combined 19-of-43 (.442) from three-point range in ACC play.
Cameron Corhen has scored in double figures 14 times and is averaging 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He leads the Panthers in dunks (34) and offensive rebounds (44), while shooting 62.9 percent (95-of-151) from the field.
Ishmael Leggett has scored 15 or more points in 16 of 20 games played this season. He is second on the team in scoring (16.5 ppg.), rebounds (114), assists (57), and steals (36).
Zack Austin has made at least one three-point field goal in a career-best 16 consecutive games. He has made at least two threes in 11 of the past 16 contests and has 33 three-pointers in that span.
Five Panthers are averaging in double figures in scoring at the Petersen Events Center this season. Ishmael Leggett (18.0 ppg.) leads the way followed by Jaland Lowe (16.4 ppg.), Damian Dunn (12.9 ppg.), Cameron Corhen (12.5 ppg.), and Zack Austin (10.1 ppg.).
Pitt is 118-of-138 (.855) from the free throw line over the past eight games. The Panthers set a school record for made free throws (20) without a miss in a game Saturday at Wake Forest.
The Panthers are currently averaging 8.6 three-pointers per game, while shooting 35.7 percent (179-of-501) 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 12-1 on the season when winning or tying the rebounding battle. Saturday's loss at Wake Forest was the first for the Panthers when outrebounding its opponent.
Three of Pitt's five league losses have been by five points or fewer. The Panthers are 4-4 on the year in games with a five point margin or less.
Five of the past six meetings between Pitt and Virginia have been decided by seven points or fewer.

PANTHER SPOTLIGHT

The Panthers have made 26 consecutive free throws over the past two games. Ishmael Leggett and Zack Austin also have individual made free throws streaks of 24 and 23, respectively.