Pitt Panthers Explode in the Second Half: Dominating 93-62 Victory Over Point Park in a Stunning Exhibition

On Tuesday night at the Petersen Events Center, the Pitt Panthers convincingly defeated Point Park 93-62 in an exhibition game, extending their exhibition winning streak to 41 games. Ishmael Leggett and Jaland Lowe were the stars of the night, combining for 46 points, helping Pitt dominate the second half and secure a comfortable win.

First Half: A Competitive Start

The game started off relatively balanced as the Point Park Pioneers played tightly in the first half. The Pitt Panthers held a 50-42 lead going into halftime. Point Park put up a solid effort to keep the game close for most of the first half, but Pitt’s excellent free-throw shooting—hitting 92.3% from the line (12 of 13)—allowed them to hold the advantage as the half ended.

Pitt’s key players, Leggett and Lowe, quickly made their mark, scoring 16 and 15 points, respectively, in the first half. Ishmael Leggett did not miss a single shot in the first half, going 4-for-4 from the field and 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Cameron Corhen, a talented new addition to the team, contributed six rebounds, helping Pitt maintain their defensive strength.

Pitt managed to extend the lead to double digits in the final minutes of the first half, creating momentum going into the second half.

Second Half: Pitt Panthers’ Dominance

Entering the second half, Cameron Corhen continued his strong performance. He scored six of Pitt’s first 10 points in a 10-4 run, which gave the Panthers a 14-point lead over Point Park Pioneers. Corhen, with his height and skills, controlled the paint, allowing Pitt to extend their lead and take full control of the game.

In the first nine minutes of the second half, Corhen scored 12 points, bringing his total to 14 for the game, while hitting 6 of 7 shots from the field. Pitt Panthers quickly took control, extending their lead to 70-52, leaving no chance for the opposition to make a comeback.

With less than 10 minutes remaining, Pitt had increased their lead to 26 points with a 12-2 run and stretched the margin to 29 points shortly after. Point Park’s defense was unable to cope with Pitt’s pace, and the game became increasingly one-sided as Pitt’s lead grew to 36 points with just over a minute left on the clock.

Pitt Panthers’ Standout Performances

Ishmael Leggett was the standout player of the game, leading Pitt with 24 points, making 8 of 9 field goal attempts, including 3 successful three-pointers. Additionally, Leggett grabbed nine rebounds and dished out five assists, contributing to Pitt’s dominance in every aspect of the game.

In addition to Leggett, Jaland Lowe also had a fantastic game with 22 points, along with two rebounds, two assists, and four steals. The duo of Leggett and Lowe created a strong offensive force that Point Park couldn’t match.

Another bright spot was Cameron Corhen, who recorded a double-double in his first game with Pitt Panthers, scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Corhen’s performance showcased his potential, and he is expected to be a key player for Pitt this season.

Freshman guard Brandin Cummings also made an impact, coming off the bench to score eight points, while Guillermo Diaz Graham added six points and six rebounds. This demonstrated Pitt’s depth, as eight of the nine players who took the court in the first half scored.

Point Park’s Late Efforts

Point Park struggled to keep up with Pitt’s offensive firepower. The team only managed to make six three-pointers, with two players reaching double-digit points: Kaden Warner (13 points) and Aiden Miller (10 points). Despite some efforts throughout the game, Point Park was unable to contain Pitt, particularly in the second half.

Pitt’s Impressive Exhibition Record

With this victory over Point Park, the Pitt Panthers continued their exhibition winning streak, now standing at 41 games, and improved their overall exhibition record to 66-5. Notably, Pitt remains undefeated at 35-0 in exhibition games at the Petersen Events Center, underscoring their dominance in preseason matchups.