Panthers Claw Back to Victory in Second Half Surge Against Demon Deacons

The Pittsburgh Panthers improved their season record to an impressive 8-3 after a hard-fought battle against the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest, ending with a final score of 77-72. The Demon Deacons, despite their valiant effort, fell to a 5-6 record.

In what was a tale of two halves at the Petersen Events Center, the home team Panthers found themselves trailing with only 27 points against the visitors' 37 by halftime. However, as the game progressed into the second half, Pittsburgh's tenacity shone through as they amassed an impressive 50 points compared to Wake Forest's additional 35. This remarkable turnaround was pivotal for the Panthers' victory.

The Panthers showcased their defensive skills with a total of 11 steals and four blocks throughout the game. Their offense was equally notable; they shot at an efficient rate from beyond the arc with eight three-pointers made out of nineteen attempts, translating to a solid forty-two percent success rate from downtown.

Pittsburgh's ability to capitalize on turnovers played a significant role in their win. They scored fourteen points off turnovers while keeping their own count low at ten. Moreover, they demonstrated better ball handling and passing with seven assists and maintained an assists turnover ratio slightly higher than that of Wake Forest at zero point seven.

Wake Forest put up strong numbers in several categories as well; they shot fifty-eight percent from two-point range and had thirty-eight points in paint contributions. Their free throw accuracy stood out at eighty-one percent successful shots from twelve attempts.

Despite these efforts by Wake Forest, it was Pittsburgh who emerged victorious thanks largely to their second-half performance which saw them improve across various facets including shooting percentage and rebounding where they gathered twenty-nine rebounds overall compared to thirty-five by Wake Forest.

As fans look ahead after this intense matchup between conference rivals, attention now turns towards Pittsburgh's next challenge where they will face off against Notre Dame Fighting Irish on February third at six o'clock PM Eastern Time back here at Petersen Events Center. The match will be broadcasted nationally on ACC Network channel six hundred twelve for fans eager to catch every moment live.