Exactly two weeks have passed since Pitt was embarrassed at home by Quinnipiac.

Sunday at Petersen Events Center, the Panthers hit another low in a young season already full of valleys, suffering an 80-73 loss to Hofstra of the Coastal Athletic Association.

Pride guard Cruz Davis dominated, scoring 36 points, and Hofstra led by as much as 17, including 13 at halftime.

“I’m not doing a good job with what I’m saying, what I’m trying to do. What we’re trying to work on is not resonating,” coach Jeff Capel said. “ … The physical and mental stamina that’s required to be a good team, we don’t have that right now. That’s something we have to continue to try to work on, continue to try to develop, and, hopefully, at some point, we get it.”

Brandin Cummings scored a career-high 34, but it wasn’t enough for the Panthers (5-5), who got the game within a bucket multiple times in the second half but were unable to put together a rally.

Cummings, who has dealt with a nagging ankle injury this season, went 10 of 15 from the floor, including 5 of 8 from deep. He hit 9 of 9 free throws, surpassing his previous career-best of 30 points scored Dec. 11, 2024, vs. Eastern Kentucky.

“He had an outstanding game and especially, a really, really great second half,” Capel said.

Davis took 25 of his team’s 55 shots, hitting five 3-pointers and dishing out seven assists.

Throughout the day, Pitt simply had no answer for Davis.

“We knew coming in that Davis was an outstanding player and having a great year, averaging 19 points a game — over the last five games it was 20.8 — and he was terrific,” Capel said. “He was by far the best player on the floor together. He got anywhere he wanted, really throughout the whole game but especially to start the game.”

As a team, Pitt shot 22 of 48 (45.8%) from the field, including 10 of 23 (43.5%).

Barry Dunning Jr. (13 points) and Cam Corhen and Damarco Minor (seven points each) were Pitt’s other main offensive contributors.

Hofstra (6-4) shot 52.7% (29 of 55) in the game and went 8 of 20 (40%) from 3-point range.

Over about a 90-second span as the midway point of the second half approached, Pitt trimmed its deficit to three points three times.

But the last instance, which made it a 55-52 game with 9:42 to play, was followed by a 7-0 Pride run over the ensuing two minutes, as Pitt fell behind 62-52.

From there, the closest Pitt would come would be seven, as Davis stayed hot to nullify Cummings’ surge.

Hofstra always had a bucket to keep the Panthers at arm’s length, and the Pride got it done from the free-throw line late to suppress Pitt’s final attempt to rally.

“I’m really disappointed in us — and this is not taking anything away from them — but we did not play with the necessary force that’s required to be good, on either side of the ball,” Capel said.

Pitt and Hofstra both battled slow offensive starts in the game, and with 10:59 to go before halftime, the Pride led 12-11.

After Dunning hit a 3 at the 8:59 mark, tying the score 16-16, Hofstra found some momentum and took a 23-16 lead about two minutes later.

At the 3:38 mark of the first half, Hofstra’s lead was 11 and grew to as much as 16 before the Panthers cut it to 36-23 at halftime.

Seven minutes into the final half, Pitt was showing signs of life, coming within 10 points before a fadeaway jumper from Cummings made it 50-47 Hofstra with 11:18 to go.

But less than four minutes later, the Pride were again up by 10.

Cummings and Davis continued to power their respective teams down the stretch, with the Pride managing to stay comfortably in the lead.

Only with 15 seconds to play did Pitt cut the deficit to seven.

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