Panthers Claw Past Blue Devils in a Close Encounter at Cameron Indoor
The Pittsburgh Panthers edged out the Duke Blue Devils with an 80-76 victory, marking a significant conference game upset. The Panthers now stand with an unblemished record, while the Blue Devils move to a 7-1 standing.
In what was a nail-biter at Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Pittsburgh Panthers showcased their resilience and tactical acumen against the highly ranked Duke Blue Devils. The Panthers' offense was firing on all cylinders, converting 51 percent of their field goals and matching that percentage from beyond the arc. Their two-point attempts were particularly effective, with more than half finding their mark.
The defensive efforts of the Panthers cannot be understated as they amassed six blocks and five steals over the course of play. This defensive hustle translated into 16 fast break points, underscoring their ability to capitalize on turnovers which they turned into 12 points. On top of that, Pittsburgh's tenacity on the boards resulted in them out-rebounding Duke by seven rebounds.
A critical aspect of Pittsburgh's success was their ability to spread out Duke's defense with balanced scoring across halves – posting 38 points in the first and improving to 42 in the second. They also demonstrated efficiency from inside by racking up an impressive 32 points in paint.
Despite committing two foulouts and dealing with twenty personal fouls which could have disrupted their rhythm, Pittsburgh maintained composure throughout. Their bench depth proved vital as they managed these challenges without any ejections or coach technical fouls marring their performance.
On Duke's side, despite falling short on home turf, there were notable performances including a higher free throw percentage at sixty-two percent compared to Pitt’s fifty-one percent conversion rate. The Blue Devils also showed precision from close range making fifty-two percent of two-point shots but couldn't maintain this efficiency from distance or overall field goal attempts where they lagged behind Pitt.
As for individual contributions for Pittsburgh – although specific player statistics are not provided – it is clear that teamwork played a pivotal role given thirteen assists were recorded alongside an assist-turnover ratio of 1.63 indicating smart ball movement and decision-making under pressure.
Looking ahead for fans eagerly anticipating future matchups; The Pittsburgh Panthers will face off against Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Hank McCamish Pavilion located in Atlanta on January 23rd at 7:00 PM Eastern Time. This game will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU channel number two hundred eight for those wishing to tune-in remotely.