For a while Jamie Dixon’s Pitt Panthers basketball team experienced a bit of a holiday hangover, going 10 days in between games. But Pitt eventually figured things out en route to a 58-46 victory over Albany in the Panthers final non-conference game before beginning ACC play.
Pitt (12-1) struggled big time shooting the basketball in the first half, going 0-for-7 from behind the arc and 0-6 from the free-throw line.
But while Pitt couldn’t get a jump shot to go until Cameron Wright canned a jumper from the free-throw line almost 15 minutes into the game, they did have great success in the paint.
Twenty of Pitt’s 28 first half points came inside the paint, including their first 18 overall as the Panthers took a 28-18 lead into the locker room.
“We didn’t shoot it very well, but we did some things we wanted to,” said Dixon. “I was excited about playing because all the hard work and improvements we made in practice this week. I thought some of that showed but maybe not as much as I would like. But we are 12-1 heading into conference play, right where we want to be.”
The Great Danes, out of the America East Conference, actually held an 8-16 lead after Sam Rowley made a jumper with 8:15 remaining in the half. But the Panthers defense held Albany (6-7) scoreless the rest of the half as the Great Danes shot only 26.9 percent from the floor during the game’s first 20 minutes.
Meanwhile Wright heated up for the Panthers as he was the only Pitt player to score outside the paint in the first half. The junior guard scored the final eight Pitt points of the half to give the Panthers a double-digit lead.
“I give the credit to my teammates,” said Wright. “I was just roaming the baseline like I like to do and they got me the ball in positions where all I had to do was knock down shots.”
Things didn’t start out a whole lot better for Albany as Pitt built an 18-point second half lead at 38-30. Before a bucket from guard DJ Evans, the Great Danes went 13:20 of game action in between field goals.
Most of that was due to Pitt switching to a zone defense, something that proved to be very effective.
“I know Jamie real well and I didn’t expect him to go Jim Boeheim on us,” said Albany head coach Will Brown. “We didn’t expect to see that much zone from Pitt. It was the first time we have seen a zone all year and we didn’t adjust very well.”
Albany chipped away though and thanks to a late 11-2 run, the Great Danes pulled within seven at 48-41 with 3:33 remaining. But a jumper from Wright and a layup from Talib Zanna put an end to their comeback attempt.
Overall it was a sloppy all-around performance from the Panthers, who must clean things up quickly before beginning ACC play.
However Pitt’s most consistent performer on the afternoon was Wright, who continued his good start to the season with a 14 point, eight assist and eight rebound effort, going 7-of-12 from the floor.
“I just take it one step at a time,” said Wright. “I feel myself getting better every game and I’m surrounded by a great group of guys. I just want to do whatever to help my team, whether it’s scoring passing the ball or rebounding, I will do whatever it takes for my teammates.”
In addition to Wright’s big day, Lamar Patterson finished with 14 points, while Zanna had 10 points to go along with nine boards.
His first basket of the game pushed Patterson passed the 1,000 career point mark in a Pitt uniform as the senior became just the third player in program history to surpass 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists.
The other two players to accomplish the feat were Brad Wanamaker and Carl Krauser.
“Everything he has accomplished he deserves,” said Wright. “You see what he does on the court, but what you don’t see is the everyday grind and the way he works his butt off both on and off the floor.”
Pitt is off until January 4 when they play their inaugural ACC game at North Carolina State.
Notes: Pitt shot 44.4 percent for the game while holding Albany to only 31.4…The Panthers outrebounded the Great Danes 40-27…Pitt had the edge in assists 18-10, assisting on 18 of their 24 made field goals… The Pitt bench only scored eight points on the afternoon, but outscored the Albany bench 8-0.
Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire/ USA Today Sports
