Pitt Panthers Men’s Basketball Completes Season Sweep of Maryland
By Brett Tunno
Jan 25, 2014; College Park, MD, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers guard James Robinson (0) drives to the basket past Maryland Terrapins guard Dez Wells (32) at Comcast Center. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
On Jan. 6, the Pitt Panthers welcomed the Maryland Terrapins to the Petersen Events Center and made a statement to the rest of the ACC with a 79-59 win.
On Saturday, the Terrapins had shot at revenge, but the No. 20 Pitt Panthers (18-2, 6-1 ACC) knocked off Maryland 83-79 at Comcast Center in College Park, Md.
Coming off a 76-43 blowout of Clemson on Tuesday, the Panthers were led by senior guard Lamar Patterson, who finished with a game-high 28 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Senior center Talib Zanna added 16 points and eight rebounds.
For Maryland, junior guard Dez Wells finished with 19 points and five steals, and sophomore guard Jake Layman contributed 18 points and five rebounds.
The Panthers jumped out to a double-digit lead in the second half, leading Maryland 67-55 with under nine minutes remaining in the game. Pitt made enough free throws and layups down the stretch to hang on for the win.
Patterson scored 15 points in the second half, and Pitt outrebounded the Terrapins 39-27 overall. Both teams finished with 17 turnovers, which is uncharacteristic of the Panthers.
In the first half, Maryland (11-9, 3-4 ACC) made five of six shots to jump out to an 11-4 lead. Pitt battled back, making 16 of 17 free throws before the break. Patterson led all first-half scorers with 13 points, four rebounds and three assists. Freshmen forward Jamel Artis chipped in eight points and 7 rebounds.
Maryland’s Wells had eight points in the first half, followed by Layman and Charles Mitchell with seven points apiece. Going into halftime, Pitt lead 42-37.
Pitt is allowing 28.2 rebounds per game, fewest in the nation. Pitt is also averaging 17.2 assists per game, most in the ACC and tied for seventh most in the nation.
Maryland has now lost four of its last five games.
It was a Maryland homecoming for several Panthers, including sophomore point guard James Robinson, forwards Artis and Aron Nwankwo, plus injured guard Durand Johnson. Robinson leads the country in assist-to-turnover-ratio (5.8).
No. 20 Pitt will host No. 18 Duke on ESPN’s Big Monday at 7 p.m. Maryland will host Miami on Wednesday night.
Brett is a Pitt staff writer at City of Champions. Follow him on Twitter @BJoseph21.