PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It was the one field goal Georgia Tech made in the last 9:49 of the game that sealed a 73-67 Yellow Jackets win over the Panthers (16-12, 7-10 ACC) Tuesday night.
It was a driving layup by Lance Terry after Ishmael Leggett missed a layup with 23 seconds to play that instead of a tie game made it a four-point lead. There were several times in the game where after Georgia Tech (14-14, 8-9 ACC) jumped out to a double-digit lead, the Panthers would climb back only to have GT make a big play or free throw.
“It was really tough,” said guard Jaland Lowe. “It’s just the way basketball goes some times. It hurts. It hurts a lot.”
Georgia Tech was nearly perfect from the foul line, 25-28 and 21-23 in the second half. Panthers committed 15 fouls in the second half, 20 for the game.
“We have to be more disciplined to not foul three-point shooters,” Capel said. “I think that happened four times tonight.”
Pitt struggled shooting at 37% field goals for the game and 30 percent from three, missing 19 shots from deep. It was also another game where the Panthers were outrebounded by double figures (37-27). Pitt also allowed 17 second chance points while only getting two.
“I thought the game was lost for us with our inability to rebound,” said Pitt head coach Jeff Capel. “We had a least five possessions where we defended well for 25, 26, 27 seconds and then we don’t come up with the rebound.”
“You can’t make that many mistakes and then not rebound the basketball and win the basketball game.”
As for trying to fix it.
“It’s just something that we have not done a good job of, some of it is the will of the guys,” Capel said. “You got to go get the ball. It was at least three or four air balls where the ball hit the ground and they got it. We are looking for someone to block out, kust go grab the freakin’ ball.”
Notes
· After calling 10 fouls, 5 on each team in the first half, the officials called 27 in the second (15 on Pitt)
· There were only 3 bench points in the entire game by either team, a three-pointer by Brandin Cummings that gave Pitt a brief lead with 5:35 to play
· Pitt held the lead for 36 seconds
· Jaland Lowe scored 25 points on 7-21 shooting, 2-9 from 3 with eight assists in 39 minutes.
· Leggett with 20 points (5-14 field goals) and five fouls 27 (15 on Pitt) in the second half
“Looking over the whole big picture of the game with Lowe, he had 25 points and eight assists, but, me as a former scorer myself, 25 points on 21 shots,” said Georgia Tech head coach Damon Stoudamire. “We did what we needed to do to make him work in this game. Leggett, he had 20, I just think between the two of them, although they had 45 points. I don’t think it was the impactful or dynamic 45 that they needed.”
· Cam Corhen fouled out with 12 points (6-6 field goals)
“Just try and keep our heads high,” Lowe said. “Not just for us, but for everyone who has been supporting us also. We are just going to keep our heads, stay discipled. Show up tomorrow, get treatment, be ready for our next game. Stay positive, try to finish this regular season up well and then we have ACC Tournament coming up. This one hurts, but it’s basketball.”
Panthers are at 21-6 Louisville on Saturday at 6p, pregame begins at 5:30 with the Voice of the Panthers Bill Hillgrove, Pitt great Curtis Aiken and Cale Berger on 93.7 The Fan.