PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It wasn’t the prettiest game, the Panthers early on had six turnovers to two assists and trailed by seven with 8:40 to play in the first half. Like good teams do, the Panthers fought through it blew it open to beat Boston College 77-58.
“We are able to sustain when we get punched in the mouth or when a team goes on a run,” said Pitt head coach Jeff Capel. “These guys, I hear them in the huddle what they are saying to each other. The positive energy they are giving to each other is different than we had in the past.”
The win moves the 19-7 Panthers to 12-3 in the ACC and alone in first place, a half game better than Virginia and a full game up on Miami. It also marked Pitt’s longest conference winning streak since joining the ACC and best since the 2010-11 season when the Panthers won its first seven Big East games.
It was a trio of Blake Hinson threes that were big in the first half, one to pull the Panthers within two points, next to give Pitt a six-point lead and then a third with 18 seconds left in the half as the Panthers turned around the seven-point deficit to a nine-point lead at halftime, 40-31.
More Hinson in the second half, a deep three at the top of the key put the Panthers up 11 and then the junior hit a three in front of the Panthers bench and was fouled, the free throw made it 58-41 with 11:27 to play.
Stats
Hinson finished with a game-high 21 points with seven rebounds. It’s the forward’s 23rd double-figure scoring game, 15th of at least 15 points and seventh of 20-plus points. Greg Elliott finished with 14 points making four-three pointers, the third straight game with four made threes. The 12th game this year Elliott had at least three made three-pointers.
Playing through an undisclosed injury, Nelly Cummings had 11 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Federiko Federiko had 10 points and seven rebounds. Jamarius Burton’s 21st game in double-figures finishing with 10 points and five rebounds.
Notes
· Pitt now 7-1 against BC at the Petersen Events
· Panthers avenge 20-point loss to Eagles last March
· Fast break points--Pitt 23, BC 6
Up Next
Panthers back on the road at Virginia Tech for a 5p tipoff with Panthers pregame starting at 4:30p with Bill Hillgrove, Curtis Aiken and Cale Berger.