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Panthers Secure Important Victory Over Wolfpack, Earning Double-Bye for ACC Tournament

PITTSBURGH (AP) — With a decisive performance, Carlton Carrington scored 23 points while Blake Hinson contributed 21 as the Pittsburgh Panthers beat the NC State Wolfpack 81-73 on Saturday. This si… The Pittsburgh Panthers defeated the NC State Wolfpack 81-73, securing a crucial fourth-place finish in the ACC Tournament. Carlton Carrington and Blake Hinson scored 23 points for the Panthers, while Jayden Taylor contributed 28 points for NC State. Despite a strong comeback from NC State, the Panthers managed to maintain a 14-point lead with six minutes left to play. The win gives them the advantage of double-bye in the upcoming ACC Tournament and a 10th place standing.

Panthers Secure Important Victory Over Wolfpack, Earning Double-Bye for ACC Tournament

Published : 2 months ago by Ella Bennet in World

PITTSBURGH (AP) — With a decisive performance, Carlton Carrington scored 23 points while Blake Hinson contributed 21 as the Pittsburgh Panthers beat the NC State Wolfpack 81-73 on Saturday. This significant win locked down a fourth-place finish for the Panthers, presenting them with the advantage of a double-bye in the rapidly approaching ACC Tournament.

The Panthers (21-10, 12-8) were already ahead by 10 at the break and expanded their lead to 52-35 not long after the second half commenced. They maintained a 14-point lead following a Hinson jumper with about six minutes left to play.

Despite not having led since the first half at around the 8-minute mark, NC State mounted a comeback, driven by an 11-0 run that included nine points from sensation Jayden Taylor. Pittsburgh managed to reestablish an eight-point lead, yet Taylor narrowed the gap to 75-70 as he sank a 3-pointer with just 59 seconds on the clock.

Guillermo Diaz Graham’s skillful alley-oop dunk and the successful and-1 increased Pittsburgh’s lead back to eight points with 51 seconds remaining. Mohamed Diarra’s 3-pointer offered hope for the Wolfpack, but the Panthers held on strong, securing the victory through free-throws.

Taylor impressively racked up 28 points for NC State (17-14, 9-11), who grudgingly settle with a 10th place standing.

The game was evenly matched in the initial 12 minutes, featuring five tie scores. NC State maintained the lead with a maximum advantage of five points until Jaland Lowe struck with a 3-pointer, claiming the lead for the Panthers at 26-23 with close to 7 1/2 minutes left in the first half. Lowe’s critical 3-pointer was part of an 18-6 run that allowed Pittsburgh to end the first half up by 10.

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