LOUISVILLE, KY (93.7 The Fan) – Down a starting guard, the Panthers had all chip in for an 83-70 win at Louisville on Saturday afternoon.
Pitt (10-5, 1-3 ACC) played without Ishmael Leggett, the team’s leading rebounder and someone who fills the stat sheets. Freshman Jaland Lowe made the first start of his career and played 27-plus minutes with nine points, six rebounds, three assists and one turnover. Freshman Bub Carrington played all but one second of the game and also only turned the ball over once, finishing with 16 points (6-10 FG), six rebounds and six assists.
“There was more energy offensively,” Carrington said on 93.7 The Fan and the Pitt Panthers Radio Network. “I feel like in our last couple of games, the ball got stagnant and we just keep preaching ‘let the ball have energy’ and we are going to hit shots and we are going to win games.”
Blake Hinson bounced back from three tough games to finish with a team-high 21 points including three, three-pointers and led a Pitt team that went 19-21 from the foul line, going eight-for-eight.
“We are a team that can shoot the basketball,” said Pitt assistant coach Jason Capel on 93.7 The Fan and the Pitt Panthers Radio Network. “We have not done that. To come out and shoot a good percentage. I thought the ball had energy. We had 15 assists on 26 made shots, that’s what we have to be. We have to be a team that trusts one another, plays together, allows the ball to have energy and create opportunities for one another.”
“I thought we did that at a pretty high level and that’s what helped us step into the winners’ circle.”
Zach Austin had no points and two rebounds against North Carolina and set a new Pitt career-high with 20 points, including four, three-pointers and four of the team’s nine steals.
“I think having Ish out of the game, we needed somebody to step up,” Austin said on 93.7 The Fan and the Pitt Panthers Radio Network. “The ball just happened to find me today and I just happened to make shots. My teammates trusted me and I trusted them.”
Guillermo Diaz Graham had a monster one-handed dunk down the lane to seal it late in the second half. He and brother Jorge combined for 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal.
Pitt got 28 points off 18 Cardinals turnovers and shot 46% field goals for the game. 36% three-pointers and 91% from the foul line.
Up Next
Panthers are home to Duke at 9p on Tuesday. Bill Hillgrove, Curtis Aiken and Cale Berger will have pregame starting at 8:30 on 93.7 The Fan.