PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pitt led for all but 40 seconds but the collective Petersen Events Center gasp as Wake Forest’s Tyree Appleby launched a three from the left side seemed to take the air out of the building. The shot from the ACC’s second-leading scorer went off the side of the rim at the buzzer as the Panthers beat the Demon Deacons 81-79.
“We knew as a staff looking through analytics Appleby is not as efficient going left (85% of his offense goes right),” said Pitt Head Coach Jeff Capel. “We were able to get him going to his left good and to force a tough shot. He’s an outstanding player and he makes big-time shots. We were fortunate he didn’t make that one.”
Meanwhile Pitt made a lot. The Panthers made a program-high 18 three pointers on 37 attempts, besting the old school record of 16 set in 1997 against Notre Dame. Blake Hinson tied a Pitt program record with eight made three pointers, finishing 8-14 from three and 8-14 overall for 24 points.
“It starts with the ball,” said Pitt guard Greg Elliott. “The ball is where the energy is to find a good shot. I feel when the ball is moving the way it was moving tonight, once we find that good shot, not matter who takes it, today it happened to be threes.”
“I’m really proud of my team because they are a good basketball team,” said Pitt Head Coach Jeff Capel. “I thought we were very good offensively. The ball had energy. I thought we learned from the last game as far as we moved the basketball. We didn’t settle.”
Pitt had 22 assists on the 28 made field goals tying their season best at Northwestern earlier this season.
In most games the 6-9 from three by Elliott would be a game, if not season best, but Elliott would have to settle for 18 points hitting the first baskets of both halves.
“It’s something Blake and I talk about a lot, setting the fire alarms off in here,” Elliott said. “To finally see it come true, it was big time.”
Notes
· Nelly Cummings finished with 11 points and six assists
· Nike Sibande off the bench with 11 points
· Jamarius Burton with nine assists and six points
· Federiko Federiko with a huge offensive put-back with 2:15 left for his only two points of the game to go with nine rebounds.
“This team got no back seat,” Hinson said. “It’s a whole Caravan where everybody is happy to go along on this ride. There is no back seat, everyone on the car ride has a good road trip.”
Panthers improve to 7-3 in the ACC, 14-7 overall the most conference wins under Capel.
ACC Standings
Clemson 9-1
Virginia 7-2
Pitt 7-3
Miami 7-3
North Carolina 7-3
Syracuse 6-4
NC State 6-4
Pickett’s Place
Returning for the first game since he was a student, now Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett attended the game Wednesday. He was joined by Panthers teammate Jim Medure and Steelers teammates, center Mason Cole and wide receiver Anthony Miller.
Send It In
Panthers honored the 35th anniversary of the Jerome Lane dunk that shattered the backboard at the Fitzgerald Field House. Lane was introduced during a TV timeout in the first half to a standing ovation.
Up Next
The end of the three-game homestand hosting Miami Saturday at 4p with pregame at 3:30 on 93.7 The Fan.