Blake Hinson scored 27 points to power Pitt to an 88-73 home win over Florida State on Tuesday night, allowing the Panthers to log a second consecutive 20-win campaign for the first time in a decade.
Hinson broke the Panthers’ single-season record for made 3-pointers, ending the night with 104. The old mark of 102 was set by Ashton Gibbs in 2010-11. Hinson went 6-for-11 from deep on the night.
Jaland Lowe added 17 points and 10 assists for Pitt (20-10, 11-8 Atlantic Coast Conference), which won for the eighth time in 10 games. Carlton Carrington had 12 points, six boards and four assists, and Ishmael Leggett put up 10 points.
Cameron Corhen led the Seminoles (15-15, 9-10) with 25 points and eight rebounds. Darin Green Jr. had 16 points, while Jamir Watkins chipped in with 15.
Early on, Florida State’s defense caused troubles for the Panthers, who turned the ball over four times in the opening four minutes. Pitt trailed, 12-7 before embarking on a 9-0 run in which Guillermo Diaz Graham, Lowe, Hinson and Carrington all contributed. Hinson’s 3-pointer during that stretch atoned for his consecutive missed free throws right before.
The Panthers wouldn’t let go of the advantage the rest of the way.
The Seminoles went without a field goal for a span of 4:46 late in the first half. At one point, 10 of the Seminoles’ 12 points were by way of free throws.
Pitt owned a 42-31 edge at halftime as Corhen and Green were the only Florida State starters to get on the scoreboard up until then. That duo kept the Seminoles in the game by combining for 25 first-half points.
Pitt’s lead continued to grow after the intermission, swelling to as many as 18 points with 17:07 to go, that after a Federiko Federiko layup. Florida State shaved the deficit down to eight when Baba Miller made 1 of 2 at the free-throw line with 11:43 left.
Pitt will close out its regular-season slate at home against North Carolina State on Saturday. The Seminoles host rival Miami the same day.
–Field Level Media