GREENSBORO, N.C. — Following back-to-back losses to conclude its regular season, the Pitt men’s basketball team held a players-only meeting to ensure the group could head to Greensboro with a winning mentality.
While Jeff Capel’s team was tested in its first battle, in the end, it withstood the storm, holding off a second-half rally to earn an 89-81 victory over Georgia Tech on Wednesday afternoon in the second round of the ACC tournament.
Early on, the Panthers (22-10) looked to have things under control. Dominance on the offensive end, headlined by a strong effort from Federiko Federiko helped Pitt take a 44-31 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Pitt’s crisp play vanished in the second half, as a handful of errors allowed the Yellow Jackets (15-18) to swarm back and eventually take a 52-50 lead with 12:55 remaining. Yet, with the game — and perhaps their NCAA Tournament hopes — on the line, the Panthers didn’t back down.
Big shots from Nelly Cummings and Greg Elliott helped Pitt regain its footing and once again take control. Along with the assistance of Jamarius Burton and Nike Sibande, the Panthers’ veteran backcourt guided the team to the program’s second-ever appearance in the ACC tournament quarterfinals.
Burton led Pitt with 21 points and eight assists, while Federiko also had a big afternoon, tallying 19 points and eight rebounds. Each of Pitt’s other three starters all finished with double-figures in scoring, as well, as Elliott, Blake Hinson and Cummings contributed 15, 12 and 11, respectively, to the winning effort.
Key stat
Although defense remains an issue for Pitt, offense was not a problem Wednesday. The Panthers had a strong day from the field, shooting 56% from the floor and 44% from 3-point-range.
Up next
The Panthers advance to the quarterfinals where they’ll face fourth-seeded Duke at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. The Blue Devils (23-8) defeated Pitt in a matchup earlier this year, winning 77-69 in Durham on Jan. 11. Duke enters Thursday’s contest on a six-game win streak.
