Inside The Panthers

Pitt F Aidan Fisch Gets Game Ball From Senior Night Win over Syracuse

Aidan Fisch got the game ball from the Pitt Panthers' Senior Night win over Syracuse.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt F Aidan Fisch Gets Game Ball From Senior Night Win over Syracuse
Pitt F Aidan Fisch Gets Game Ball From Senior Night Win over Syracuse /
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers had just dominated Syracuse at home to earn a win on Senior Night. Each of their 99 points drew enormous cheers from the sold-out crowd that had paid to watch their team close the home schedule out in style, but the cheers for the final bucket of the evening were the loudest of them all. 

From manager to walk-on to scholarship player, Pitt forward Aidan Fisch's college career ended with him scooping a layup off glass and almost every part of the rim before it fell through the rim to the delight of the more than 12,000 fans who packed the stands at the Petersen Events Center and Fisch's teammates. Everyone from the players on the floor to head coach Jeff Capel was jumping for joy, swinging their arms and screaming their heads off. 

"It was an unbelievable moment at the end to get Fisch in and then for him to score," Capel said. "It was emotional for all of us and I think you saw that and you know what he means. That shows what he means to our program."

Starting guard Nelly Cummings was in the dogpile at the end of the game and called it some of the most fun he's ever had. 

“I’ve never done nothing like that," Cummings said. "It’s probably one of the most fun things I’ve ever done in my life. Pure adrenaline.”

Fisch's moment in the sun wasn't over after the buzzer sounded. When he returned to the locker room, Capel singled him out from the group of five seniors on the team to recognize his contributions from the past four seasons. An emotional Capel's voice broke as he told Fisch that he'd go home with the game ball from his final night at the Pete. 

"Listen, all of you guys played your ***** off, but I've got the game ball," he said. "And I'm gonna give this to a dude who dreamed of being here. He came to camp. He got that ******* bucket off the crossover. He has been as big a part of this turnaround as anyone because he has believed, he has led, and he has shown up every day."

Capel then tossed the ball to Fisch, who was again embraced my his teammates.

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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