Pitt vs Virginia Tech Live Feed: Cold Shooting Sinks Six-Game Win Streak

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers lost their hold on first place in the ACC after falling to Virginia Tech. Pitt couldn’t mount enough offense to overcome what was a double-digit deficit for much of the second half. With the loss, the Panthers fell from first to third in the conference stands.

Matchup: Pitt at Virginia Tech
Time: 5:00 P.M. ET
Where: Cassell Coliseum
How to Watch: ACC Network
How to Listen: 93.7 The Fan

Live Game Chat

Come chat with our Inside the Panthers team. Stephen Thompson 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.

Stephen: Final: Pitt 72, Virginia Tech 79.

The offense ran cold this afternoon in Blacksburg. Pitt shot just 16.7% from 3-point distance and committed nine turnovers that became 17 points for the Hokies.

The fouls were also a story in this game. Four Pitt players committed four or more. Six Panthers committed multiple penalties. All but one player - Nate Santos, who played less than a full minute - committed at least one. The disparity wasn’t massive - 24-20 in favor of the home team. It handicapped Pitt’s starting lineup - who combined for 20 fouls - from playing at their fullest and decreased the tempo dramatically while the Panthers attempted to mount a comeback.

Stephen: Elliot has fouled out too. 3:42 to go and the Panthers are down nine. Every time they make an inroad, Virginia Tech has made a big shot to put the game back to a comfortable margin.

Stephen: Blake Hinson fouls out after scoring four points in 25 minutes. The Panthers trail by 10 with under six minutes to go.

Stephen: The Diaz Graham twins have been really good in relief of Federiko Federiko tonight. They've been really active defensively and made solid decisions on the offensive end. But it hasn't been enough to help Pitt climb back in the game. They still trail by eight with under eight minutes to play.

Stephen: Pitt continues to struggle defensively but more good offensive rebounding has kept them in the game. With Hinson and Federiko on the bench with four fouls each, the Diaz Graham twins have been tasked with filling in. Their length has been valuable to help preserve possessions, but the Panthers still trail by nine with 11:47 to play.

Stephen: Seven offensive rebounds and eight second-chance points are keeping the Panthers in this game. A key offensive board from Guillermo Diaz Graham - in for Federiko after he committed his fourth foul - led to a triple from Elliot. The Panthers have cut their deficit from 12 to seven with 15:40 to play.

Stephen: Halftime: Pitt 30, Virginia Tech 41.

The Panthers started slow but have started to find their footing offensively. Still, they haven't been able to put together stops. The Hokies are shooting 54% from the floor and averaging 1.226 points per possession. Their bigs - Grant Basille and Justyn Mutts - have combined for 18 points on 9-12 shooting.

The Panthers also have three starters in foul trouble - Cummings, Hinson and Elliot all have two each.

Stephen: Pitt can't seem to get a handle on this game defensively. Virginia Tech has gotten a ton of easy looks at the basket and baited the Panthers into a ton of fouls. Eight players have seen the floor and all but one have committed a foul. The Hokies lead 32-26 with 3:34 to go until halftime.

Stephen: Virginia Tech leads 23-15 with 7:35 left in the first half. The Hokies are shooting 61.5% from the floor and 50% from 3-point distance. Pitt has yet to make a triple.

Stephen: A 13-0 run has the Hokies out in front 18-11 with 11:16 to play in the first half. The Panthers have committed four turnovers and scored zero points in the last 3:54.

Stephen: Cummings is off to a good start in this one. He's taken a charge, scored four of Pitt's eight points and grabbed a rebound. The Panthers lead 8-5 at the first media timeout.

Stephen: Things change and people change too but Pitt's starting lineup stays the same. The Panthers will roll with Nelly Cummings, Greg Elliot, Jamarius Burton and Federiko Federiko to start against Hunter Cattoor, M.J. Collins, Sean Pedulla, Grant Basile and Justyn Mutts for Virginia Tech.

Stephen:

#Pitt’s Will Jeffress putting up a bunny before giving way to Greg Elliott for warmups. He has been doing some dribbling otherwise.

Jeffress was ruled out for the season after having foot surgery Dec. 1, but this is at least encouraging to see. pic.twitter.com/rfxieeFbn6
— Corey Crisan (@cdcrisan) February 18, 2023

Stephen: Federiko Federiko has been one of the stories of the season for this Pitt team. Little was expected of him entering the year, but he has been one of the most valuable players in the starting lineup for the Panthers this season. He's handled plenty of ACC centers, but few like Virginia Tech's Justyn Mutts, who leads his team in rebounds and assists.

I think his latest performance against Quineten Post, a big who can stretch the floor with his ball handling, passing and shooting, was telling. Federiko held him in check and showed he's capable of both walling up inside and moving his feet to stop better athletes on the perimeter. That will be key today against Mutts.

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