PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The new guards played big roles as the Panthers moved to 3-0 with an 86-74 win over Florida Gulf Coast on Monday night.
ACC Rookie of the Week Bub Carrington topped off his second week with a 35-footer to beat the shot clock in the final minute and finished with a game-high 19 points and seven assists. Carrington also had four rebounds. Transfer Ishmael Leggett also had some big moments with 17 points, a team-high seven rebounds and five assists.
Jaland Lowe, in his third college game, finished with a career-high 12 points in 15 minutes and keyed a stretch when he scored five straight points and gave the Panthers a six-point lead in the first half.
“I thought Jaland Lowe came in, in the first half and was unbelievable,” said Pitt head coach Jeff Capel. “It was great to see him trust his shot and trust his instincts. I thought he gave us a huge boost.”
“He saw a couple of shots go in and I think that showed him, I belong out here,” Leggett said. “We have 100% trust in him. His work just came to light.”
Blake Hinson didn’t shoot a high percentage 6-15 FG (3-10 from three) but finished with 18 points, five rebounds.
He only finished with two points and five rebounds in 21 minutes, but Capel said they won this game in part because of the defense from Will Jeffress.
He helped hold Florida Gulf Coast’s leading scorer, Zach Anderson, to 10 points.
“I just want to win ballgames,” Jeffress said. “When I come in the game, no matter where I’m put, who I’m guarding, where I’m at offensively. I just want to win. Whatever I can do to help our team do that, that’s what I’m here to do.”
“This was a great game for us,” Capel said. “It’s a great game to learn from. I can’t wait to get to the film. I think there are so many teachable moments from this game that will help us going forward. I’m proud of our guys for being resilient and fighting.”
Rookie Award
Earlier in the day Carrington just the third Pitt player ever honored as ACC Freshman of the Week. Carrington had the first NCAA Division One tirple-double debut in 22 years and averaged 18 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7 assists while shooting 57% from the field over a pair of wins.
The other two Panthers to win the award each did it twice. Trey McGowens in 2018/19 and Justin Champagnie in 2020.
Opponent praise
His first season as head coach back in 2009 and spending nearly a decade at Penn State, Florida Gulf Coast head coach Pat Chambers said he was impressed by the 3-0 Panthers.
“Jeff’s got a good team,” Chambers said. “Hinson can really shoot. Carrington, I watched him on film and knew about him in high school. He’s a big-time player. We tried a bunch of different coverages on him and he still had 19 and seven. Ishmael, I watched him at Rhode Island. He’s a dawg. That’s the greatest compliment you could give anybody. Fierce competitor, he knows who he is.”
“Good team. Really good team.”
Up Next
Friday night the final game of the four-game homestand to begin the season against Jacksonville at 7p. Bill Hillgrove and Curtis Aiken have the call with pregame at 6:30p on 93.7 The Fan.