PITTSBURGH — In a commanding performance on Saturday evening, Ishmael Leggett led the way for the University of Pittsburgh, scoring 21 points and steering the Panthers to an 83-68 win against Stanford.

Despite struggling with his three-point shooting and missing all four attempts from beyond the arc, Leggett excelled inside the paint, finishing with a perfect 9-for-9 record on shots taken inside the three-point line. This victory marks the 12th win of the season for Pitt, which currently boasts a record of 12-2 and an undefeated 3-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. The Panthers are enjoying a remarkable home court streak, having captured 15 consecutive victories at the Petersen Events Center dating back to the previous season. Coupled with this match, Pittsburgh has achieved its best start since the 2016-17 season, celebrated by claiming its fifth straight win and extending a school record of eight consecutive victories in ACC competition.

Supporting Leggett was Jaland Lowe, who contributed significantly with 16 points, dished out five assists, and snagged four steals. Additionally, Guillermo Diaz Graham scored 12 points, while Zack Austin added 11 points to the tally. Austin also made history, becoming only the fourth player in NCAA history to record 1,200 career points, 600 rebounds, 175 three-pointers, and 200 blocks.

For Stanford, Maxime Raynaud emerged as the top scorer, matching Leggett with 21 points, while Chisom Okpara, coming off the bench, added 14 points to his team’s effort. The Cardinal, opening their inaugural ACC season, struggled with the demanding schedule of three consecutive road games.

The first half saw Leggett scoring 13 points, helping Pittsburgh establish a 38-30 lead at halftime. The game shifted when Jaylen Blakes made a three-pointer, giving Stanford an early 18-9 lead, but Leggett answered back with four crucial points as the Panthers ended the half on a 12-5 run.

The second half began with an 8-0 run by the Panthers, in which Leggett scored four more points. Pittsburgh maintained control of the game, with Diaz Graham tipping in at the rim, extending the Panthers’ lead to 20 points at 55-35 with 13:18 left on the clock.

Stanford’s newly appointed head coach, Kyle Smith, who was recognized as the Pac-12 Coach of the Year last season at Washington State, continues to adjust to the challenges of the conference.

Looking ahead, Pittsburgh is set to face No. 4 Duke on Tuesday, while Stanford will host Virginia Tech in its ACC home opener on Wednesday.