Pitt won a thriller in its NCAA First Four game against Southern Miss, downing the Bulldogs, 60-59. Jamarius Burton hit the game-winning shot with 9.8 seconds left and freshman Guillermo Diaz Graham blocked Tolu Smith’s shot with two seconds left to preserve the win and send Pitt into the 64-team NCAA Tournament. Texas A&M Corpus Christi edged Southeast Missouri State, 75-71 in the other First Four game.
Coach Jeff Capel was thrilled.
Pitt guard Nelly Cummings, who led the Panhers with 15 points, says the team put it all together despite playing with center Federiko Federiko, who did not dress for the game because of a knee injury.
In addition to the 15 points by Cummings, Pitt got 13 from Greg Elliott, 12 from Blake Hinson, and 11 by Nike Sibande.
Number 11 regional seed Pitt and number 6 Iowa State tip off at 3 o’clock Friday afternoon at Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina.
One negative note for Pitt yesterday: injured center John Hugley IV has entered the transfer portal. He was able to play only eight games this season before stepping away from the program in January to deal with his mental health and continuing recovery from knee surgery.
