Pitt ends losing streak with 93-67 victory against Boston College

With the pressure off and its spot secured in the first round of the ACC Tournament, Pitt had nothing to lose and only confidence to restore Saturday night while cruising to a 93-67 victory against Boston College at Petersen Events Center.

The No. 13-seeded Panthers (17-14, 8-12) will play No. 12 Notre Dame at 2 p.m.Tuesday at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Boston College (12-19, 4-16) did not qualify for the 18-team league tournament.

Despite their record, the Eagles stood toe-to-toe with Clemson on Wednesday night. Boston College trailed by three with four minutes to play before losing to the Tigers, who are ranked 11th nationally, 78-69.

But Boston College, which previously took North Carolina into overtime before losing, turned out to be no threat to the Panthers.

Coming into the game with his third four-game losing streak of the season, Pitt coach Jeff Capel made a personnel switch at the start, putting Guillermo Diaz Graham on the bench — he had started 25 games previously — and freshman Brandin Cummings in the lineup for his third career start.

Cummings responded by sharing top-scoring honors with Cam Corhen (16 points each). Jaland Lowe added 15 points and 10 assists, and Ishmael Leggett 14 points with four 3-pointers. Jorge Diaz Graham and Amsal Delalic each scored eight off the bench. Overall, Pitt shot 50% from the field (30 of 60).

“I thought we did a great job of sharing the basketball,” Capel said. “I thought we defended really well in the first half, the attention to detail, to the scouting. It was great to make some shots. We haven’t made shots in a really long time from 2 or from 3. It was good to see the ball go in the basket.”

Capel said Cummings, who made three 3-pointers, has “a bright future.”

“I’m excited about it. He did a good job (Saturday).”

Unlike every previous ACC game where they trailed early, Pitt jumped on Boston College from the outset and grabbed an 18-6 lead with 11 minutes, 58 seconds left in the first half.

“The game got away from us pretty quick,” BC coach Earl Grant said.

Corhen scored Pitt’s first six points before the Panthers went on a 12-2 run. All scoring plays occurred in three-point increments with Leggett (two) and Cummings hitting from long range and Cummings adding three foul shots.

“It was good to be able to get the ball inside and be able to finish inside early,” Capel said. “It was good early for Cam and for us.”

Capel also was pleased that his team won the rebounding battle, 37-29, and grabbed 14 off the offensive glass.

“I thought our guys pursued the basketball and that led to us getting extra possessions and some extra baskets,” he said.

In the first half, Pitt was at its best, forcing Boston College to miss 10 of 11 3-point attempts and shoot only 28% from the field (7 of 25) in the first half.

Pitt’s lead grew to 48-19 at halftime, with Leggett (11), Corhen (10), Cummings (9) and Amsal Delalic (7) scoring most of the points.

After the game, Capel said he hopes the victory helps Pitt regain some of the confidence his players lost during a stretch that turned a 12-2 record into 16-13 before Saturday.

“We haven’t played good basketball, and that’s on me,” Capel said. “We haven’t shot it well. We haven’t defended well. We haven’t rebounded well. When we lost to Louisville here and Clemson here (in January), I think that really knocked us back as far as confidence. We weren’t able to close some of these games. We just weren’t able to finish. We don’t get a rebound. We don’t get a 50-50 ball. We miss an open shot, a layup, a free throw, whatever it is.

“We couldn’t get out of it. That’s why it was good to get a win and to play well.

“Hopefully, seeing the basketball going through the basket gives us confidence. Look, we’re going to be 0-0 like everyone else (in the tournament). We’re going to be playing in a venue that no one’s played in. We’re excited to still have an opportunity to play.”