Inside The Panthers

Pitt Assumes Sole Control of First Place in ACC with UVA Loss at UNC

The Pitt Panthers got even more help from their ACC rivals this weekend.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt Assumes Sole Control of First Place in ACC with UVA Loss at UNC
Pitt Assumes Sole Control of First Place in ACC with UVA Loss at UNC /
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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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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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