Second Half Rally Not Enough as Pitt Falls to Texas A&M
PITTSBURGH — Coming off an emotional buzzer-beater victory over Ohio State, Pitt was looking to stack another high-major nonconference win with the Texas A&M Aggies in town for the ACC-SEC challenge.
Despite a 16-0 rally midway through the second half to give Pitt a four-point lead, the Panthers could not hold on as Texas A&M gutted out a 81-73 win at the Petersen Events Center.
Barry Dunning Jr. put together a double-double for the Panthers (5-4) with 18 points on 9-of-14 shooting and 12 rebounds, seven on the offensive glass. Dunning only shot one 3-pointer in which he missed. Cam Corhen and Nojus Indrusaitis added 15 points apiece as Pitt shot 48 percent from the floor.
Texas A&M (7-2) out-rebounded the Panthers 36-32. Rashaun Agee led the Aggies with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Ruben Dominguez registered 18 points that included four triples.
The Aggies shot 30.8 percent from three and 47.5 percent from the floor.
Texas A&M, a team that shoots above 38 percent from beyond the arc, jumped out to a quick lead behind a trio of 3-pointers from Mackenzie Mgbako, Dominguez and Pop Isaacs. It was 14-5 Aggies in a hurry as Pitt flew around aimlessly trying to defend the three.
The Panthers did not record their first field goal until 4:35 into the game. Pitt’s response came in spurts, but the Panthers were never able to overcome the deficit in the first half.
Omari Witherspoon sank a step-back three and Indrusaitis buried an off-balanced look from beyond the arc to make it 14-13 all while the Aggies went scoreless for nearly three minutes.
Texas A&M maintained its lead thanks to the Aggies work on the offensive glass. The Aggies collected nine offensive rebounds in the first half and added eight second-chance points, including a 3-pointer from Mgbako that came after a pair of offensive boards.
On the offensive end, Pitt’s shooting ramped up as the half progressed, especially from three as Damarco Minor walked into a three and then moments later added a corner triple.
Dunning, who entered the game scoring 10.4 points per game, helped bring the intensity for Pitt as he’s done at times this season. He collected an offensive rebound and finished off the play at the rim before Pitt came away with a steal. Pitt took that extra possession as Indrusaitis fed Dunning with a lob and a finish. Moments later, Dunning stepped through the defense and polished off a dunk.
Still, Texas A&M continued to find its stroke from beyond the arc as Rylan Griffen knocked down a triple with just over two minutes to go. A handful of empty Pitt possessions kept the score 35-33 Aggies at half.
Pitt finally grabbed its first lead of the game at 37-35 early in the second half, but the Panthers stumbled after that.
The Aggies full court press provided some difficulties for the Panthers. Extra possessions allowed for Dominguez to get a pair of extra looks beyond the arc in which he drained both.
Pitt stared down its largest deficit of the game at the 11:55 mark, trailing 57-45.
Then, Texas A&M’s Mgbako was called for a technical foul, which altered momentum moving forward.
Pitt engineered a pivotal 16-0 run following that moment that thrust the Panthers into the drivers seat with a 61-57 lead. Pitt did a lot of its work during that stretch down low. Corhen and Dunning scored within the paint, while the Panthers out-rebounded the Aggies 7-2.
Despite the comeback effort that put Pitt in front, the Panthers faltered with a handful of pivotal turnovers, while the defense could not hold up in the final six minutes. The Aggies rolled through the lane and poured in a number of layups to go along with several trips to the free-throw line.
The Aggies strung together an all-important 9-0 run that was capped with a Rashaun Agee three to close out the Panthers.
The Panthers carry on nonconference play against Hofstra on Sunday at the Petersen Events Center. Tip is set for 4:00 p.m.
