Pitt opens ACC schedule with 68-60 victory at N.C. State, wins fifth in a row

On multiple occasions this season, Pitt coach Jeff Capel has been asked to describe his team’s identify. Perhaps it’s too early to say for sure, but Pitt’s 68-60 upset victory Friday night against N.C. State in Raleigh, N.C., appears to have set a tone that Capel hopes to maintain.

“To be able to come on the road in the ACC, you have to be tough, you have to be strong, you have to be connected,” Capel said on the 93.7 FM postgame show. “And we certainly were that tonight.”

In the ACC opener for both teams, Pitt shot well from the field — almost 50% (26 for 54) — but defense was the difference in the Panthers’ fifth consecutive victory. N.C. State fell to 7-2 while scoring 23 points below its season average. Its only other defeat this season was an 80-74 loss at No. 9 Kansas.

The victory was only Pitt’s fourth all-time against N.C. State (4-21), and its first in Raleigh since 2014.

Capel called the victory “a big, big-time win.” It also was a bit surprising to many people outside the Pitt locker room because the Panthers lost eight of 10 ACC road games last season.

“Our key was our defense, getting back in transition, trying to limit them to one shot,” said Jamarius Burton, who was Pitt’s leader on both ends of the floor, scoring a career-high 24 points. He has scored in double digits in all eight of his games while helping Pitt to a 6-3 start.

“I felt we defended the heck out of them for 40 minutes, especially on the 3-point line (where N.C. State was 6 of 27),” Capel said. “Really, really proud of our guys. We were incredibly connected all night.”

N.C. State coach Kevin Keatts noted that the Wolfpack struggled when Burton had the ball in his hands.

“He puts a lot of pressure on you,” he said, “because of his ability to get to the rim. But he can step back and hit some shots, too.”

Blake Hinson (13) and Nike Sibande (10) complemented Burton’s scoring efforts, and Greg Elliott added seven points and a career-high nine rebounds.

Burton, who played in front of several family members who arrived from his hometown of Charlotte, said Pitt is still trying to figure out its identity. In the meantime, players will simply follow Capel’s lead, he said.

“The past two games (including an 87-58 victory at Northwestern on Monday), we really defended and we’re just trying to continue that,” Burton said. “At the beginning of the season, we were having trouble with communication and coverages. But we picked it up and stayed locked in and continued to stay the course.

“We’re just trying to stay unselfish, continue to lock in on the scouting reports and follow coach’s lead.”

Federiko Federiko, Jorge Diaz Graham and Hinson contributed four blocks — two by Hinson — while Pitt forced the Wolfpack to endure two scoreless stretches in the first half — one of 4 minutes, 38 seconds and the last 3:47 of the half.

Pitt led by as many as 12 points midway through the second half after a four-point play by point guard Nelly Cummings. After trailing by five at halftime, N.C. State got no closer than a six-point disadvantage in the final 20 minutes.

Pitt took charge at the outset of the second half and held a comfortable lead until N.C. State trimmed the 12-point lead to 56-50 with 7:47 left. After a timeout, Sibande answered with a 3-pointer. With defense and free-throw shooting, Pitt was able to keep the lead to the end.

The Panthers shot 12 of 15 from the foul line, paced by Burton (6 of 6) and Cummings (3 of 3). Cummings has made all 14 of his foul shot attempts this season. “We shoot 25 free throws after practice,” Bunrto said, “making sure we’re ready for these type of moments and it paid off.”

Pitt led, 67-57, with a little more than a minute left when Federiko, who played 25 minutes, missed an easy layup, the shot falling off the rim when it appeared to be finding the cords. N.C. State’s Casey Morsell hit a 3-pointer to put some heat on Pitt, but Hinson answered with a foul shot to set the final score at 68-60.

N.C. State’s Jarkel Joiner came in leading his team with a 17.3-scoring average, but he missed all 12 attempts from the field and finished with one point while being shadowed most of the night by Sibande.