Pitt
11-5, 1-2ACC
NC State
14-2, 2-1ACC `
No. 15 NC State Uses Late Run to Pull Past Pitt, 86-80
1/12/2019 2:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Coming off Wednesday night's overtime win over Louisville, the Panthers (11-5, 1-2 ACC) led for much of the second half and took a 61-57 advantage with 6:31 remaining when Au'Diese Toney converted from beyond the arc. But the Wolfpack (14-2, 2-1 ACC) responded with a quick 16-4 run thanks to four consecutive three-pointers made to pull ahead for good.
Freshman guard Xavier Johnson led Pitt with a career-high 25 points, converting 8-of-12 from the field and 9-for-11 from the free-throw line. Toney added 17 points and six rebounds, while Jared Wilson-Frame (12) and Terrell Brown (10) also scored in double figures for the Panthers.
In a physical conference battle, NC State lost two key players in the first half. Starting forward Wyatt Walker was ejected in the opening minutes for a flagrant foul on Johnson before prolific guard Markell Johnson had to leave the game due to an injury.
The Panthers hung around for much of the first half and trailed 41-40 at the break. With Khameron Davis knocking down a trio of corner three-pointers and Pitt making 24 free throws, the visitors were able to lead for much of the second half before NC State's final run made the difference.
BIG PICTURE
Pitt: The Panthers were coming off their first ACC victory since they upset No. 17 Florida State in February 2017. They were trying for their first winning streak in league play since earlier that month. They're clearly improved over last year's team that went 0-18 in the ACC but wound up with their 13th straight road loss in the conference.
"We're still learning, we're still growing, we're still trying to figure out how to win on the road in this league," first-year Pitt coach Jeff Capel said. "We have to minimize all those mistakes, and we have to be really good at the little things."
N.C. State: The dominating issue for the Wolfpack was how they struggled at both ends without Walker, who was tossed 2 minutes in for grabbing the foot of Pitt's Johnson to bring him down. They also were missing Markell Johnson, who took a hard fall while trying to block a shot and didn't play in the second half. N.C. State missed 13 consecutive shots in the second half before Funderburk and Lockett carried the team down the stretch.
"I've said this before -- we're going to fight," Keatts said.
COMEBACK KID
Lockett, a graduate transfer from Florida International, didn't see the court in the 80-72 loss to the Tar Heels. Keatts said he found out Lockett went to the team's practice facility to work on his shooting immediately after that game. "Nobody played bigger than the guy who didn't play the last game," Keatts said.
KEY STATS
N.C. State outrebounded Pitt 25-14 in the second half and generated 15 second-chance points to the Panthers' three. They also had 17 turnovers -- their fourth game with at least that many, and they're 0-4 when that happens. "Offensive rebounds killed us, and we have to value the basketball," Capel said. "Those two things were the difference in the game."
UP NEXT
Pitt: Plays host to No. 13 Florida State on Monday night.
N.C. State: Visits Wake Forest on Tuesday night.
