PITTSBURGH — Three players scored in double figures for Pitt, but the Panthers were defeated by 15th-ranked Miami, 67-53, Saturday evening at the Petersen Events Center.
After the defenses dominated the early minutes of a tight contest, the Hurricanes (12-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) slowly built their lead over the Panthers in the final 30 minutes to win the conference opener for both teams.
The Hurricanes held Pitt (8-6, 0-1) to 40 percent shooting, outrebounded the Panthers 31-23 and forced 19 turnovers. Miami, playing its fifth straight road game over the last three weeks, hardly looked tired five days removed from a third-place finish in the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii.
Miami outscored the Panthers 40-28 in the paint and got to the rim regularly during a 13-1 run at the end of the first half that broke it open.
Freshman Shamiel Stevenson came off the bench to lead Pitt with 16 points. Jared Wilson-Frame scored 13 points and Parker Stewart added 12 from the backcourt in defeat for the Panthers.
The Panthers came in having won seven of eight to give their massively overhauled roster a needed confidence boost. The Hurricanes presented a significant challenge, one Pitt was forced to take without senior forward Ryan Luther, who missed his fourth straight game with a foot injury.
Luther is Pitt’s lone experienced post player. Still, the Panthers kept things close with Miami for much of the first half and competed until the final buzzer.
BIG PICTURE
Miami: The Hurricanes look plenty comfortable on the road, a formula that should keep them in the ACC race well into March. Nearing the end of a stretch in which they play at home just once in six weeks, Miami’s ability to play anywhere should bode well in arguably the nation’s toughest conference.
Pitt: The Panthers are still searching for offensive consistency. Freshman point guard Marcus Carr has shown he can run the offense but Pitt is still prone to lengthy droughts that could make it difficult for them in the challenging ACC.
UP NEXT
Miami: Visits Georgia Tech on Wednesday. The Hurricanes are 6-2 against the Yellow Jackets under coach Jim Larranaga.
Pitt: Travels to Louisville on Tuesday. The Panthers are 0-6 to the Cardinals since Louisville joined the ACC in 2014.