Virginia Smothers Pitt with Stifling Defense, Rolls to 67-47 Win
The No. 22 Virginia Cavaliers didn’t just beat Pitt on Tuesday night-they put on a defensive clinic. In a 67-47 win at John Paul Jones Arena, Virginia held the Panthers to their lowest scoring output of the season, and in doing so, reminded the rest of the ACC that this team’s identity is still very much rooted in suffocating defense and smart, efficient basketball.
From the jump, Pitt looked out of sorts offensively. The Panthers actually held an early 7-3 lead, but that didn’t last long.
Virginia responded with a 12-0 run, flipping the game on its head in less than three minutes. That stretch wasn’t just about scoring-it was about control.
The Cavaliers dictated pace, clogged passing lanes, and forced Pitt into tough looks. By the time the first half ended, Pitt had made just nine field goals and coughed up the ball 10 times.
Sam Lewis Leads Balanced Cavaliers Attack
Offensively, Virginia didn’t need a superstar night to get the job done. Instead, they leaned on balance and timely shooting.
Four different Cavaliers scored in double figures, with Sam Lewis leading the way with 15 points. His biggest contributions came right when Pitt started to show signs of life.
After the Panthers trimmed the deficit to 49-27 midway through the second half, Lewis buried back-to-back threes that slammed the door shut on any comeback hopes.
This is the kind of performance that shows why Virginia is so dangerous. They don’t rely on one guy to carry the load.
They move the ball, they take care of it, and they capitalize when opponents make mistakes. That’s exactly what they did to Pitt.
Pitt’s Offense Stalls-Again
For the Panthers, this game was another chapter in a frustrating offensive season. They finished with just 17 made field goals-exactly the same number of turnovers they committed.
That stat alone tells the story. Pitt couldn’t find rhythm, couldn’t take care of the ball, and couldn’t generate consistent looks, especially in the halfcourt.
This marks the sixth time in ten ACC games that Pitt has failed to reach 70 points-and the third time they’ve been held under 60. Tuesday night’s 47-point output was their worst of the season, even lower than the 49 they posted against West Virginia back in November.
First-Half Struggles Continue
The offensive issues aren’t just about total output-they’re about how games are starting. Pitt’s first-half scoring woes have become a troubling trend.
Just days after managing only 16 points in the first half against Clemson, they came out and scored just 20 in the opening frame against Virginia. That makes four times in the last six games that Pitt has scored 22 or fewer in the first half.
When you’re constantly digging out of early holes-especially against a team like Virginia-it’s almost impossible to climb back in.
Missing Their Leading Scorer
Pitt was also without leading scorer Brandin Cummings, who sat out due to lingering ankle pain. It’s the same issue that kept him sidelined earlier in the season, and while the team labeled it a precautionary move, his absence was felt. Cummings had been limited in the previous game against Clemson, scoring just two points in 12 minutes, and without him on the floor Tuesday, the Panthers lacked a go-to offensive option.
Second-Chance Opportunities Tilt the Game
Rebounding wasn’t a disaster for Pitt in terms of raw numbers-they only trailed 38-31 on the glass-but the impact was felt in key moments. Virginia pulled down 13 offensive rebounds, converting those into 13 second-chance points.
That’s a backbreaker, especially when your own offense is sputtering. There were stretches in the second half where it felt like the Cavaliers had the ball for minutes at a time, simply because Pitt couldn’t finish off possessions.
Even Roman Siulepa, typically a strong presence on the boards, didn’t record a single defensive rebound.
No Breakout Performances for the Panthers
Usually, even in losses, there’s at least one bright spot. Not this time.
Cam Corhen and Nojus Indrusaitis each scored 11 points, but both were plagued by turnovers and inconsistency. Corhen turned it over five times, while Indrusaitis had a few flashes in the second half that were overshadowed by earlier mistakes.
Siulepa, who had been trending upward, finished with eight points, three rebounds, and three assists in 35 minutes-solid, but far from game-changing.
What’s Next
Pitt will try to bounce back Saturday when they host SMU at the Petersen Events Center. The tip time has been moved up to 2:00 p.m. and the game will be televised on The CW. The Panthers are just 7-7 at home this season and will be facing an SMU squad that’s 15-7 and coming off a heartbreaking one-point loss to NC State.
For Virginia, this win is another reminder of how effective they can be when they lock in defensively and stay true to their identity. At 19-3, they’re not just winning-they’re doing it in a way that travels come March.