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Pitt guard Jaland Lowe handles the ball during the first half of a game against Syracuse in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023.
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Pitt bullied by Florida State's defense in loss to push losing streak to three games

Associated Press

Pitt bullied by Florida State's defense in loss to push losing streak to three games

Jaland Lowe paces Panthers with 22 points

Pitt men’s basketball lost its third straight ACC contest in a 82-70 game to Florida State at the Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Fla., on Wednesday night. First half turnovers put the Panthers (12-5, 3-3) behind early and kept Pitt from closing the distance as the game continued.

The Seminoles’ (12-5, 3-3) defense pressured Pitt throughout the night and it took too long for the Panthers to adjust. Although Pitt only committed three turnovers in the second half, the 14 committed in the first half combined for a season-high 17 turnovers and ultimately handed Florida State an early lead.

Combine that with Pitt’s 38% rate from the field and it was an off night for a Pitt offense that had shot the ball at a 48% rate coming into the night — second best in the ACC. Florida State’s defense consistently face-guarded Pitt’s sophomore guard Jaland Lowe and took him out his early rhythm as he committed a season-high eight turnovers — he hadn’t committed more than four turnovers in a game leading up to Wednesday night. Lowe led the Panthers with 22 points.

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Six of Lowe’s turnovers came in the first half and contributed to the 28-23 halftime deficit Pitt faced. Early in the second half, Florida State hit a 13-3 run that separated the teams before the Seminoles had their largest lead of the game at 55-39 with 9:47 left in the game. 

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Senior forward Jamir Watkins lead Florida State in scoring with 26 points, including making three of six 3-pointers on the night. He and sophomore forward Malique Ewin were the key factors for Florida State, as Ewin added a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds.

Lowe eventually did find his groove in the second half, where he scored 20 of his 22 points on the night, and only committed two turnovers. But by then, Florida State’s offense also found more answers and Pitt never claimed a lead in the second half.

It was over when

Pitt fought back to make it a two possession game in the final minutes, but an inability to score from the floor down the stretch spoiled their chance at completing a comeback. As the game was at 68-62 with 2:26 left in the game, Pitt’s defense kept Florida State from hitting a shot from the floor until there were 25 seconds left in the game.

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But Pitt’s offense couldn’t get to work during that time, as Lowe and Ishmael Leggett missed 3-pointers and Florida State got to ice the game out. After Lowe decreased the deficit to five points with 1:58 left, Florida State went on an 11-2 run purely off free throws and the Panthers didn’t hit two shots from the floor in the final 2:30 of the game. 

Player of the game

Jorge Diaz Graham was the biggest boost for Pitt in the second half that kept the Panthers alive. He finished the game with 17 points, hitting five of seven from the floor, including four of five on 3-pointers. Diaz Graham’s 57.1% on 3-pointers led the team coming into the night as he had become increasingly better in recent games.

He only played 18 minutes, but the 6-foot-11 junior maybe earned what should be more playing time in the near future with his contributions on both ends of the floor. He added an offensive rebound, a block and a steal. If he can keep up that 3-point shooting pace with more time on the floor, he can be a difference making asset for the Panthers in future ACC contests.

Trending down

Junior forward Cam Corhen had been one of Pitt’s best players in recent games and had a chance to continue that against his former team. But he scored just two points on the night and missed all four of his shots on the floor. While he tallied nine rebounds, his offensive presence not being present cost Pitt in key moments.

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Corhen started the game with good defense, but ultimately committed poorly timed fouls down the stretch that prevented Pitt from closing out good efesnive possessions and put Florida State on the free throw line several times in the final minutes of the game.

Up next

Pitt returns home noon for a Saturday tipoff against Clemson (14-4, 6-1) for a big ACC matchup. If the Panthers want to be considered a NCAA tournament team come March, they’ll have to stop the losing streak soon, or their goodwill built by a strong start to the season will have been wasted.

First Published: January 16, 2025, 4:53 a.m.
Updated: January 16, 2025, 5:27 p.m.

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