Pitt vs Tennessee Martin Feed: Panthers Look Impressive in Win Over Skyhawks

Come talk throughout the Pitt Panthers season opener.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers tip off against Tennessee Titans to launch the 2022-2023 season into play. 

The Panthers started slow but ended fast, finding their footing after a few minutes and not letting off the gas. Behind a double-double from Blake Hinson (28 and 13) and seven assists from Nelly Cummings, Pitt walked away 1-0 with a 80-58 win over the Skyhawks.

Game Information

Matchup: Pitt vs. Tennessee Martin
Time: 7:00 P.M. ET
Where: Peterson Events Center
How to Watch: ACC Network Extra
How to Listen: 93.7 The Fan

Live Game Chat

Come chat with our Inside the Panthers team. Stephen and Noah will share their thoughts and news, and any highlights from the game. Tweet at us at @InsidePitt to have your thoughts and reactions shared in the feed.

Noah: Your starter stats:

Noah: Jorge Diaz Graham slaps the ball against the backboard, grabs the rebound and is fouled. As he's walking over to the foul line, he starts waving no to the crowd. Energy is still here.

Noah: 32-point game with 3:30 left. Pitt leads 78-45. Backups are on the court. The panthers are going to walk away winners and 1-0 on the season. 

Stephen: Pitt assisted at a blistering rate in the first half. 77% of their makes came off an assist. They've somehow improved on that mark since and now sit with a 79% assist rate. 

This won't come as a surprise to Jeff Capel, who claims his team assisted on 75% of their buckets during preseason practices. The shooting splits have benefited as a result. 

Noah: Meanwhile in Coppin State... 

Noah: Hinson with the steal and the slam. He's everything advertised. Pitt's momentum is huge ass they near a 30-point lead, up 67-39. There's a ton of energy from this group. Elliott is going nuts on the bench, Hinson has the swagger and the crowd is loud. Good night for the Panthers so far.

Stephen: The loudest ovation of the night so far came for Blake Hinson after he knocked down an and-1 3-pointer. It's not a particularly big crowd here at the Pete, but they got loud for that play. The Panthers have pushed their lead to 24 with 12:27 left to play. 

Noah: A little scuffle between Hinson and Tennessee Martin's KJ Simon. Simon locked Hinson's arm with his as he ran down the court. Hinson hits the floor, Pitt players join in and Simon has some words. Refs break it up, look at the replay and hit both players with a technical, plus a technical on Cumming and a flagrant foul on Parker Stewart, resulting in an ejection. 

Stephen: 

Stephen: Pitt missed their first eight attempts from 3-point distance and has made seven of 13 3-pointers ever since. 

Noah: The threes are falling now. Greg Elliott hits one first then Nelly Cummings falls for a four-point play. Pitt is fired up as they take a 20-point lead.

Stephen: Pitt's next opponent ...

Noah: Close... not really.

Stephen: Pitt leads 37-24 at halftime. Blake Hinson has 11 points and six rebounds. Fede Federiko is in range of a doubel-double with seven points and rebounds. 

The Panthers are shooting just 36% from the field, 23% from 3-point range and 67% from the free throw line, but they've dominated the Skyhawks physically. They own a +12 margin on the boards and +7 margin in offensive rebounding.  

Noah: Skyhawks' Koby Jefferies got a little heated as he tried to get the offense to setup a play. Instead drove to the basket for two. You could tell Pitt's defense is frustrating Tennessee Martin, especially in the front court. 

Stephen:

Stephen: Federiko just picked up a technical foul for hanging on the rim immediately after blocking a shot on the other end. That's the second technical called on the Panthers in the first half. 

Stephen: 

Noah: The pick-and-roll game between Nelly Cummings and Federiko Federiko is untouchable right now. Six points from it so far. Too big, too smooth.

Stephen: Pitt is winning on the glass early. Total rebounds are 19-7, offensive rebounds are 7-0 and Hinson - eight points and six boards - has been the catalyst. He's way too big for UT Martin too handle. 

The Panthers are up 19-8 with 9:00 to play in the first half. 

Stephen: Guillermo Diaz-Graham gave Jeff Capel some great minutes during first stint as a Panther. He was active on both ends, collecting four rebounds and an assist in three minutes. He's committed a poor turnover and foul, both the case of him trying to do too much when a play wasn't really there to be made. Call it first-game jitters. 

Noah: Hinson hits the Panthers' first three, ending an eight-shot drought to start the game. Early winner in this game has been the junior forward.

Noah: Hinson grabs his fifth rebound. The big body is controlling the boards early and it's easy to tell. 

Noah: Pitt heads into the first timeout 0-4 from the three. Open shots aren't falling early. Good ball movement to create those shots, though. 

Stephen: Both teams look a little tight in the early going. Pitt and UT Martin are a combined 1-12 from the field and committed seven turnovers in 18 total possessions.  

Noah (@NoahStrackbein): Greg Elliott gets called for a flop technical. Can't tell if I'm more impressed with college basketball taking the initiative or upset that flopping is now a technical. 

Stephen: 

Stephen: Nelly Cummings, Greg Elliot, Jamarius Burton, Blake Hinson and Fede Federiko will start for the Panthers tonight. 

That center spot Federiko is occupying in place of the injured John Hugley was a little up in the air during the preseason. Jeff Capel started 6'11 freshman Guillermo Diaz-Graham in the first exhibition and Federiko in the second. Federkio brings some better athleticism and defense, which probably fits better for this group given the scoring talent already in the lineup. 

Koby Jeffries, K.J. Simon, Desmon Williams, Parker Stewart and Chris Nix will start for UT Martin. 

Stephen: 

Stephen (@stephenethom): I've arrived at the Pete! We're less than an hour from tip-off between Pitt and UT Martin, the start of year five under Jeff Capel. The Panthers will try to avoid a repeat of last year's season opener, when they lost to the Citadel in an embarrassing affair and they'll have to do it without leading returning scorer and rebounder, John Hugley, who's out with a knee injury. 

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage and so much more!

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