PITTSBURGH — Jaland Lowe delivered an impressive performance with 21 points, while Ishmael Leggett contributed significantly with a double-double as Pitt triumphed over Radford with a final score of 96-56 in their season opener on Monday evening.
Leggett finished the game with 19 points, making 9 of 13 shots, along with 12 rebounds, showcasing his all-around abilities on the court.
Radford managed to close the gap to 28-24 with a couple of free throws from TJ Nesmith at the 6:02 mark of the first half. However, that would be the closest they would get as Pitt took control of the game in the remaining minutes before halftime.
The Panthers dominated the Highlanders in the latter part of the half, outscoring them 17-3, and took a comfortable 45-27 lead into the locker room at halftime. The scoring burst was initiated by Guillermo Diaz Graham, who made two free throws, followed by a three-point play that involved a lob dunk from Lowe. The Panthers established their first double-digit lead when Damain Dunn converted two free throws to extend the margin to 35-25 with 2:46 left.
The lead ballooned to 20 points early in the second half, with a 3-pointer from Guillermo Diaz pushing the score to 51-31. Pitt continued to pile on the points, reaching a 63-33 advantage just three minutes later when Leggett hit another 3-pointer.
Throughout the game, Pitt maintained control, never relinquishing their lead.
For Radford, the scoring was led by Brandon Maclin, Nesmith, and Zion Walker, who each contributed nine points.
This matchup marked the inaugural encounter between the two teams. With this defeat, Radford’s record against current teams in the ACC now stands at 3-30.
Looking ahead, Pitt is aiming for a strong season, with aspirations of securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament. After finishing the previous season winning 12 of their last 16 games, the Panthers were eliminated in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament by North Carolina.
The NCAA Tournament selection committee listed Pitt among the “First Four Out,” and the team chose to forgo an invitation to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT).