Pitt Recovers From Slow Start to Defeat Providence in Exhibition
PITTSBURGH — College basketball in is officially back at Pitt. Well, sort of.
Sunday marked the first time that Jeff Capel’s re-tooled 2025-26 squad played in an actual game environment together as Pitt hosted former Big East rival Providence at the Petersen Events Center for an exhibition contest.
While exhibitions are less about the final outcome and more about the process and chemistry building aspect of the game, the Panthers’ 81-74 victory over the Friars eased some worries about the type of team that Pitt can become this season.
The Panthers lost all but three contributors from last season’s team, guard Brandin Cummings and forwards Cam Corhen and Papa Kante, but added a plethora of talent to surround them.
The newcomers include transfers Damarco Minor, Barry Dunning Jr. and Nojus Indrusaitis, and freshmen Roman Siulepa, Omari Witherspoon and Macari Moore.
The Panthers started the game with some offensive struggles that led to the Friars claiming an early 18-6 lead. After the 8-of-20 start from the field, the Panthers went on a 20-5 run that propelled them ahead of the Friars.
After claiming control of the lead and the game, the size and physicality that most people expected from the new group finally showed itself as the Panthers held the Friars without a field goal for the final 4:26 of the first half.
During that span, the Panthers defense forced the Friars to go 0-of-7 from the field as they closed the half making 5-of-7 shots. The differential helped the Panthers take a 41-31 lead into the break.
Following the halftime intermission, the Panthers extended the lead to double-digits just minutes into the half following a personal 6-0 run from Witherspoon.
Due to a handful of fouls and turnovers by the Panthers, the Friars fought all the way back to make it a two-point game with just over five minutes left in the game.
After seeing the Friars cut the lead to 64-62 with just 5:04 left in the game, the Panthers got another scoring surge to re-establish a multiple possession lead.
The run was highlighted by an and-one by Minor, two huge dunks from Dunning and another and-one from Indrusaitis. The run by the Panthers pushed the lead back to 11 points as they led the Friars 75-64 with under two minutes to go.
Following the second half run, the Panthers cruised the rest of the way to the exhibition win over the Friars.
The Panthers had five players finish in double-digits as Minor led the way with 15 points. Cummings scored 12, Indrusaitis totaled 11 and each Corhen and Witherspoon scored 10 points a piece.
After a rough start from the field, the Panthers recovered to shoot 47 percent (27-of-57) despite struggling from three-point range (3-of-15). In comparison, the Friars shot just 38.5 percent from the field on 65 shots.
Pitt is set to play one more exhibition game, which is against Pitt-Johnstown on Oct. 27, prior to the season-opener on Nov. 3.
Offer Alert
The 2025 Pitt football season is here, so take advantage of this limited time offer to sign up and receive all the news and intel surrounding the Panthers. Sign up today — $1 for the first week, plus a complimentary year of access to The Athletic. Click the image below to join!
