The Pitt men’s basketball team was faced with its first real test of the season on Wednesday, as it played St. Louis, the favorite to win the Atlantic 10, as a four-point underdog. But in a close matchup that featured 12 lead changes, the Panthers defeated the Billikens 75-73 on a neutral court in the Barclays Center Classic in Brooklyn, New York.
While the story of the day was undoubtedly freshman guard Xavier Johnson, who reached 20 points for the second game in a row amid an incredible start to his collegiate career, an offseason addition who has kept a lower profile this season suddenly emerged in a big way for Pitt in Wednesday’s game.