Panthers Clawed by Orange in Fierce Conference Showdown

The Pittsburgh Panthers, with a season tally of 0-1, faced off against the Syracuse Orange in a game that ended 81-73 in favor of the home team. The Panthers put up a valiant effort but ultimately fell short at the JMA Wireless Dome.

The first half saw the Pittsburgh Panthers take an early lead, scoring 38 points to Syracuse's 30. However, as play resumed after halftime, momentum shifted. The Panthers added another 35 points to their score but couldn't contain the surging Orange who amassed an impressive 51 points in the second half.

Pittsburgh's offense was led by their ability to convert from beyond the arc, sinking 10 three-pointers at a solid rate of 40 percent. Despite this proficiency from long range, overall field goal percentage for the team stood at just 42 percent with only 26 field goals made out of a total of 62 attempts. Inside scoring contributed significantly to their offensive efforts as well; they managed to add an important dimension with their inside presence totaling up to 32 points in paint.

Defensively, Pittsburgh showed resilience under pressure with notable stats including five steals and three blocks throughout the game. Their defensive efforts also translated into fast break opportunities where they scored an impressive total of fourteen fast break points.

However, turnovers proved costly for Pittsburgh; they gave away possession fifteen times which allowed Syracuse to capitalize and score eleven points off these errors. Moreover, personal fouls were frequent for both teams - nineteen for Pittsburgh and twenty-one for Syracuse - affecting rhythm and flow on both ends of the court.

Syracuse showcased strong shooting efficiency particularly from two-point range where they hit sixty percent of their shots contributing heavily towards their victory margin. Their free throw performance was also commendable as they converted eighty percent from the line which helped them maintain distance down the stretch.

As fans look ahead after this tough loss on enemy territory, attention turns back home where The Pittsburgh Panthers will face off against North Carolina Tar Heels at Petersen Events Center located in Pittsburgh PA on January second at seven PM Eastern Time zone broadcasted on ESPN channel two hundred six.