Pitt dug itself a big hole yesterday, falling behind by 18 points to Syracuse in the first half, but Jeff Capel’s Panthers climbed out of that hole with a big second half to beat the heavily-favored Orange, 63-60.
Playing without four players, three of them out because of covid contact protocol, the Panthers still trailed by 12 points with seven minutes left, but Pitt dominated the glass and the defense held Syracuse to only seven points over those final seven minutes. Au’Diese Toney’s tip-in with only eight seconds left gave Pitt its first lead.
Ithiel Horton led Pitt with 14 points, with Xavier Johnson and Toney each adding 12 and Femi Odukale 10.
Capel said he was proud of the hard work the Panthers put in.
Capel was reminded of the kind of basketball the Pitt Panthers used to be known for before he came to Pittsburgh.
Pitt is scheduled to play Florida State on Saturday, but the Seminoles program is plagued by coronavirus, so it’s uncertain is the game will be played. Florida State was originally scheduled to play Syracuse yesterday.
Comments