PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It was not easy, only three wins in the conference but playing better as of late, Georgia Tech gave Pitt everything, but the Panthers hit enough key shots down the stretch to win 76-68.
“I thought we showed a toughness, a grit and I’m really, really proud of that,” said Pitt head coach Jeff Capel. “It’s huge. We don’t take winning for granted. It’s hard. It’s hard in this league. This league is better than the reputation it is getting.”
“To be able to get off the mat after losing at Virginia Tech. We hadn’t had that feeling in a while. Then to do it in this manner is good for us.”
“It was a gritty win,” said Pitt guard Nelly Cummings. “We were tested a little bit and that’s what we needed today. We didn’t need it to be a blowout win or anything like that. We had to dig deep and get the win.”
Panthers trailed by four with 12 minutes to play, the game went back and forth for a little, Federiko Federiko dunked to give the Panthers the lead with nine minutes to play and they never relinquished. Nelly Cummings and Blake Hinson with a pair of threes from the corners to keep the Panthers lead.
The Yellow Jackets played flawless for the first 25 minutes, at least in terms of ball handling, committing no turnovers. Pitt got only one basket off turnovers all game. Georgia Tech was also perfect on second-chance points until late and started the second-half 3-for-3. One area the Panthers were nearly perfect, 19-20 from the foul line, Federiko Federiko went 8-for-8, Cummings 7-for-7.
“We were finally able to get some stops,” Capel said. “We were able to get out in transition and these guys (Federiko and Cummings) did an unbelievable job on the foul line.”
Pitt finished with four players in double-figures-Cummings with 23 points (one point shy of a Pitt career-high), six rebounds and seven assists. Hinson had 19 points (5-9 from 3), Federiko with 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocks before fouling out, Jamarius Burton with 12 points.
“They have a veteran group and they made some veteran shots at some key times,” said Georgia Tech head coach Josh Pastner. “A couple of times with hands in their face, Hinson and Cummings as well. They hit some timely shots. Their veteran group made big shots at big times when the game could have gone another direction.”
“Their starting five are older than the Oklahoma City starting five. That goes a long way, especially in this league.”
It’s the 20th win of the season for the Panthers, first time to reach that level in nine seasons as Pitt heads into the home finale with Syracuse at 20-8, 13-4 in the ACC.
“We are in the moment right now, man,” Capel said. “It’s hard to reflect on those types of things right now. We know we have a heck of a game coming up on Saturday, our last home game in front of this crowd that has been unbelievable all year, especially the Zoo.”
“It definitely means something, but we are in the grind right now,” Cummings said. “We are focused on the next opportunity we are going to have. Yeah, 20 wins is special, but we’re not done.”
Panthers are a half game out of first place in the conference, trailing Miami, who beat Virginia Tech 76-70 on Tuesday and idle Virginia, 13-3 in ACC play.
Notes
· The teams combined for 11 turnovers (7 by Pitt)
· The teams combined for 12 bench points (10 by GT)
· Pitt was a plus-10 in rebounds
· Each team had nine made threes
Hamlin here
During a timeout in the first half, the Panthers honored former Pitt football player and Bills safety Damar Hamlin with a video showing Panthers fans support for the Central Catholic HS graduate.
Up Next
The home finale and Senior Day for Nelly Cummings, Jamarius Burton, Greg Elliott, Nike Sibande and Aiden Fish facing Syracuse at 5p, pregame at 4:30p on 93.7 The Fan with Bill Hillgrove, Curtis Aiken and Cale Berger.