MENS BASKETBALL
Pittsburgh 80, Duke 76
MITCHELL NORTHAM
ASSOCIATED PRESS
DURHAM, N.C. - Blake Hinson scored 24 points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting from 3-point range as Pittsburgh won in Cameron Indoor Stadium for the first time since 1979, beating No. 7 Duke 80-76.
Hinson shot 8-of-10 from the floor and collected a team-high eight rebounds as the Panthers (11-7, 2-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) snapped a four-game losing streak against the Blue Devils. Pitt also got 16 points and six assists from Jaland Lowe and 11 points from Ishmael Leggett.
In a loss that ended its eight-game win streak, Duke (13-4, 4-2) was powered by Jared McCain’s 20 points. Kyle Filipowski scored 19 points, and Caleb Foster had 16 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Kickstarted by a two-handed dunk from Federiko Federiko, Pitt jumped out to a 21-10 lead. Duke battled back, but it seemed like every time the Blue Devils grabbed the lead, Hinson was there to answer. After the Blue Devils took a one-point advantage on a layup and free throw by Filipowski with 6:35 to play, Hinson responded with his seventh 3-pointer of the game.
When Duke trimmed the deficit to one point with 1:10 to play, Lowe swished a pull-up 3-pointer with Filipowski’s hand in his face. Free throws by Lowe and Hinson with under 10 seconds to play put the game out of reach. After the buzzer sounded, Hinson hopped on the press table to taunt the Cameron Crazies.
BIG PICTURE
Pittsburgh: With grit and Hinson’s heroics, the Panthers beat a ranked opponent on the road for the first time since Feb. 9, 2013. While Hinson was sharp from beyond the arc, the Panthers excelled inside, winning the rebounding margin by seven and outscoring Duke in the paint 32-18.
Duke: In a messy game where Duke had as many turnovers as assists (11), it could have used the steady presence of senior guard Jeremy Roach, who was out with a knee injury. Sidelined as well — for the second straight game with a knee injury — was sophomore Mark Mitchell, and Duke missed his 5.6 boards per game. The Blue Devils have been outrebounded in each of their four losses.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Pittsburgh athletics press release
January 20, 2024
