93.7 The Fan (PITTSBURGH) - For the first time in 45 years, the Pitt Panthers beat Duke at Cameron Indoor, in an 80-76 win.
It was just 11 days ago these two teams played each other for the first meeting of the season and Duke outrebounded and outscored the Panthers in a 22 point win for Duke. This time things changed.
"We looked like the team we were about a month ago," said Jeff Capel in his postgame press conference. "I think our spirit was broken a little bit, confidence, we had really good days of preparation for this, maybe more mental than anything. We were just excited about the opportunity to play again and to play against them. You have to be tough and together to have a chance here. Our guys really stepped up to the challenge."
Pitt started off with a 9-0 lead less than three minutes in, but Duke would cut the halftime score to 38-34 Pitt.
Duke tied the game at 55-55 on a Jared McCain 3-pointer with under 11 minutes to play in the game. Pitt and Duke would trade baskets back and forth but the Panthers kept the lead 72-71 with 1:07 left.
Jaland Lowe buried a triple to put Pitt up 4. Duke would cut the game to a 79-76 Pitt lead with 4 seconds left and Tyrese Proctor at the free throw line for one more shot, after making the first one. Protctor attempted to throw the ball off the rim to get an offensive rebound but he threw it off the backboard, giving Pitt the ball. Hinson would make one of two at the line and that would close out the Blue Devils 80-76.
Despite finishing with 19 points in the game, the Panthers only allowed Kyle Filipowski to make 5 shots in the game.
"We wanted to go with Federiko early to start," said Capel. "We wanted to try to be a little more physical with him. He's kicked our butt every time we've played him. From last year here, ACC Tournament last year, obviously the first game. Our guys collectively as a group, we stepped up to the challenge. He's probably the best player in our league. Our guys fought and did a pretty good job."
The Panthers were led by senior Blake Hinson, who scored 24 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Hinson tied the ACC record for most 3-point makes without a miss. He went 7/7 in the game.
"He was terrific, he was terrific," said Capel. "He had poise, he got revved up there a little bit, got to try to get him back to neutral. He loves these types of environments and he was able to make some shots. It was good for us to see the ball go into the basket by him and by all our guys."
At the end of the game, Hinson climbed on top of the scorers table and let the Cameron Crazies hear from him.
"First of all, no disrespect honestly," said Hinson. "This is one of the hardest places to win in the nation. So that was just an example of you climbing Mount Everest and you're just looking from up top saying I did it. It's nothing but respect, you can get mad at it, but the way I look at it, it's nothing but respect,"
Both of Pitt's ACC wins have come on the road, with wins against Duke and Louisville. The Panthers will be on the road Tuesday at Georgia Tech with tipoff at 7 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan.