Pitt Assumes Sole Control of First Place in ACC with UVA Loss at UNC
PITTSBURGH -- Earlier in the day, the Pitt Panthers had already gotten a massive lift from Florida State, who knocked off No. 13 Miami at the buzzer. That loss from the Hurricanes moved Pitt and Virginia up into a tie for first place in the ACC and Lady Luck stayed on the Panthers' side well into the evening.
Pitt assumed sole possession of first place in the conference a couple of hours later, when the buzzer sounded in Chapel Hill, North Carolina to signal that North Carolina's 71-63 upset of No. 6 Virginia was officially completed. The Panthers needed a win over Syracuse and a loss from the Cavaliers to return to first place in the league standings. They did their part and the Tar Heels did theirs, meaning Pitt is in line for the top seed in the ACC Tournament entering the final week of the regular season.
This was North Carolina's first Quad 1 win of the season. They earned it by holding the typically efficient Cavaliers to 39.7% shooting from the field and 33% shooting from 3-point distance. Virginia made just 45% of their free throws. Pete Nance made all four of his 3-point attempts, and seven of his ten shots on the way to 22 points. R.J. Davis recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Virginia has now lost two in a row after falling on the road to Boston College earlier in the week. They are fading at the wrong time but that comes to Pitt's benefit. The Panthers visit Notre Dame and Miami to close the regular season.
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