Jaland Lowe scored 19 points, including the go-ahead layup in the final minute, and Guillermo Diaz Graham had a key block to help No. 18 Pittsburgh rally past Virginia Tech 64-59 in both teams’ Atlantic Coast Conference opener on Saturday in Blacksburg, Va.
Lowe gave the Panthers a 60-59 lead with 50 seconds left when he converted a left-handed layup in traffic. Diaz Graham swatted Ben Burnham’s layup on the Hokies’ ensuing possession, and Lowe drilled four free throws down the stretch to secure the win for Pitt.
Diaz Graham finished with nine points, seven rebounds and two blocks, while Ishmael Leggett scored 17 points for the Panthers (8-2, 1-0 ACC). Lowe made all six of his free-throw attempts for Pitt, which finished 12-for-12 from the line after shooting no foul shots in the first half.
Toibu Lawal scored 16 points and Jaden Schutt netted 14 to lead the Hokies (3-6, 0-1), who dropped their sixth straight game. Tyler Johnson and Brandon Rechsteiner each tallied eight points, and Johnson grabbed six rebounds.
Virginia Tech gained separation after the Panthers closed within 50-49 at the 8:02 mark following two straight steal-and-scores. Johnson’s three-point play gave the Hokies a four-point edge, and Schutt drilled a triple from the top of the key for a 56-49 lead with 5:19 left.
Pitt scored the next five points, including a 3-pointer by Lowe that ended a nearly five-minute field-goal drought and made it 58-56. Lowe answered Lawal’s free throws with a layup before Diaz Graham sank a pair from the line to tie the game at 58 with 1:34 left.
After Lawal split his next two foul shots with 1:09 to go, Lowe drove down the lane to give the Panthers the lead for good.
Pitt had a 17-10 edge in points off turnovers and made five more free throws than the Hokies.
The Panthers made just one field goal over the final 5 1/2 minutes of the first half, and Virginia Tech carried a 36-28 lead into the break following Schutt’s fastbreak jam that capped a 13-2 run.
Schutt and Leggett each finished the half with 11 points and three 3-pointers.
–Field Level Media
