The Pittsburgh Panthers (8-6, 0-1) came out aggressive early in the game on Saturday afternoon. It helped them limit the Miami Hurricanes (12-1, 1-0) to one-and-done possessions, and opened up opportunities for points in the paint. However, it also contributed to foul trouble and poor positioning on the defensive end. While Pitt trailed by just one point, 19-18, at the 3:42 mark in the first half, they were outscored by Miami 11-1 to close the half.
Some teams aren’t able to continue their momentum coming out of the half. The Hurricanes weren’t one of those teams. They capitalized on two, quick turnovers by the Panthers and converted their first four attempts from the floor, extending their lead to 36-22.